Six Ottawa mayoral candidates addressed gender-based violence at September forum
At a forum on September 25, candidates including incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe discussed housing, police alternatives and funding for organizations that work with survivors.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on thefulcrum.ca.
Six Ottawa mayoral candidates, including incumbent Mark Sutcliffe, attended a forum on gender-based violence on September 25, hosted by two organizations that work with survivors. The Fulcrum, the student newspaper of the University of Ottawa, reported on what the candidates said and how organizations responded.
The forum, called the Safer Together Forum, was organized by the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) and the City for All Women Initiative (CAWI). Besides Sutcliffe, it was attended by Jeff Leiper, Neil Saravanamuttoo, Alex Lawson, Ali Shayvard and Zed Chebib.
Sutcliffe's housing plan and the encampment promise
At the forum, Sutcliffe committed to building 650 supportive housing units during his term, which he described as "more than double the pace that we were originally planning to build housing units because we need to support vulnerable people," according to the Fulcrum.
His campaign also released an advertisement in early October stating it would "move immediately to clear encampments." CAWI co-executive director Meg Herod told the Fulcrum she was concerned about the gap between those two positions. "If Sutcliffe serves another term, I sincerely hope he makes the connection that prevention is not an isolated issue, but rather it relies on an interconnected system of supports and resources," Herod said.
Herod also said: "To me, the administration can and needs to do more to ensure the safety of its residents, even more so as we navigate these times of economic uncertainty."
Funding figures not provided
The forum asked all six candidates whether they would increase funding to organizations such as OCTEVAW and CAWI. The Fulcrum reported that 72.5 per cent of gender-based violence organizations in Ottawa cite inadequate city funding as their main obstacle to providing services.
Sutcliffe told the forum he thought the city needed to "look at the funding for the organizations that are doing great work in the community," but did not provide a specific dollar amount. The Fulcrum said it contacted his campaign for specific figures and received no response before publishing the article.
Police alternatives
The forum also focused on what non-policing approaches candidates would support. Ottawa's ANCHOR program provides mental health and addiction services as a city-led alternative to police response.
OCTEVAW executive director Astara van der Jagt told the Fulcrum that the candidates showed "limited familiarity with non-policing approaches to safety. Despite decades of community-based work demonstrating why prevention, social supports, and community-led solutions matter."
The Fulcrum noted that Sutcliffe's answers at the forum did not address ANCHOR specifically.
Context: reported violence rates
CAWI told the Fulcrum that Ottawa saw a 9 per cent increase in reported gender-based violence statistics from 2024 to 2025. The City's own 2021-2031 Community Well-Being and Safety Plan lists gender-based violence as one of its seven priorities.
Voters choosing a mayor today can read the profiles of all four mayoral candidates at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates#mayor. Voting places are open until 8 p.m. today, October 26.
Questions this story answers
What was the Safer Together Forum?
The Safer Together Forum was held on September 25, 2026, in Ottawa. It was hosted by the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) and the City for All Women Initiative (CAWI). Six mayoral candidates attended: Mark Sutcliffe, Jeff Leiper, Neil Saravanamuttoo, Alex Lawson, Ali Shayvard and Zed Chebib. The forum asked each candidate about their plans to address gender-based violence in the city.
What did Mark Sutcliffe say at the forum?
At the forum, incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he wanted everyone in Ottawa to 'not only be safe, but to feel safe.' He committed to building 650 supportive housing units, which he described as more than double the original pace the City had planned. When asked about specific funding for gender-based violence organizations, he said 'I think we need to look at the funding for the organizations that are doing great work in the community' but did not state a dollar figure. The Fulcrum asked his campaign for specific figures and received no response by publication time, according to the article.
What concern did organizations raise about Sutcliffe's encampment promise?
In early October 2026, the Sutcliffe campaign released an advertisement stating it would 'move immediately to clear encampments.' The Fulcrum reported that the City for All Women Initiative raised concerns about this promise. The article explained that for some people fleeing abusive environments, camping is one of the few available options when shelters are at capacity or unsuitable for other reasons. The CAWI co-executive director Meg Herod said in the article: 'If Sutcliffe serves another term, I sincerely hope he makes the connection that prevention is not an isolated issue, but rather it relies on an interconnected system of supports and resources.'
Did the Sutcliffe campaign address the ANCHOR program?
According to the Fulcrum's reporting, Sutcliffe's answers at the September 25 forum did not address the ANCHOR program. ANCHOR is a city-led community program that provides mental health and addiction services as an alternative to police response. Astara van der Jagt, executive director of OCTEVAW, told the Fulcrum: 'There appears to be limited familiarity with non-policing approaches to safety. Despite decades of community-based work demonstrating why prevention, social supports, and community-led solutions matter.'
How much of the city's gender-based violence organizations say funding is their main problem?
According to information presented at the forum and reported by the Fulcrum, 72.5 per cent of gender-based violence organizations in Ottawa cited inadequate city funding as their primary obstacle to providing services. The forum asked all six mayoral candidates whether they would increase funding to organizations such as OCTEVAW and CAWI. These organizations provide direct support to survivors and are often the only resource available to people experiencing gender-based violence.
What did the forum report about gender-based violence rates in Ottawa?
According to the City for All Women Initiative, as reported by the Fulcrum, Ottawa experienced a 9 per cent increase in reported gendered violence statistics from 2024 to 2025. CAWI also noted that gender-based violence is underreported because perpetrators often occupy a position of power in the victim's life. The City of Ottawa's 2021-2031 Community Well-Being and Safety Plan lists gender-based violence as one of its seven priorities.
Which other candidates attended the September 25 forum?
Six mayoral candidates attended the Safer Together Forum on September 25: incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Jeff Leiper, Neil Saravanamuttoo, Alex Lawson, Ali Shayvard and Zed Chebib. The Fulcrum's article focused primarily on the incumbent mayor's responses. Voters can read the profiles of all mayoral candidates at the Ottawa 2026 candidates page on this site.
Where can I vote today in Ottawa?
Voting places in Ottawa are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, Monday October 26, 2026. You can find your voting place using the City of Ottawa's online tool. Bring identification showing your name and address. You are choosing a mayor, one ward councillor and school board trustees. If you are unsure which ward you are in, the City's Elections Office can help at 613-580-2640.
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