Better Ottawa New Candidates for Mayor and Orleans-East
14 snips
Jan 23, 2026 A busy week in local politics with a councillor facing impaired driving charges and questions about electability. A new candidate steps forward for Orleans-East and another joins the mayoral race with notable conservative backing. Public consultations on Ottawa–Montreal high-speed rail spark debate over station location. Fresh LRT bearing failures lead to inspections and uncertainty about service and costs.
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Door Knocking Wins Votes
- Joanne recalled Michael Qaqish winning after visiting doors three times, showing the impact of boots-on-the-ground.
- Panelists emphasized that in-person contact often matters more than social media alone.
Lawson Could Reshape Mayoral Race
- Neil flagged Alex Lawson as a new mayoral entrant with conservative backing and experienced campaign staff.
- John said the candidate may draw rural and suburban conservative support and change the race dynamics.
Conservative Split May Mirror 2006 Upset
- Joanne noted conservatives backed Mark Sutcliffe previously but now seek a more conservative alternative.
- She compared the situation to 2006 where a conservative outsider won by capturing the middle.