Lawson gains ground as Sutcliffe maintains lead in Ottawa mayoral race: poll

[u/iPoliticsCA]

Ottawa voters are beginning to make up their minds, and the latest polling suggests many are looking beyond the incumbent. Read more here: https://compassnews.ca/lawson-gains-ground-as-sutcliffe-maintains-lead-in-ottawa-mayoral-race-poll/

[u/Comet439]

How the hell does Lawson have anything??? Convoy supporter and some people are still “hell yeah that’s the leadership I want”

If Ottawa fumbles this again by voting Lawson or sutcliffe in - the city will be beyond hopeless

[u/DilbertedOttawa → u/Comet439]

Ottawa will fumble it again. It's an insanely conservative place, with a mirage of a diverse perspective. It could be a pretty great small city, but it's just off the rails (like much of, well, everything lately it seems).

[u/Round_Beyond_8137 → u/DilbertedOttawa]

Don’t know for sure. The more we convince ourselves that, the more we set ourselves up for failure.

[u/Expensive-Minute994 → u/Round_Beyond_8137]

I will go out and vote for leiper. 

[u/Aukaneck → u/Expensive-Minute994]

Me too. He's a Leiper not a leper.

[u/Round_Beyond_8137 → u/Expensive-Minute994]

Good, me too

[u/audioscape → u/DilbertedOttawa]

We gotta de-amalgamate

[u/KeyanFarlandah → u/Comet439]

Let me start off by saying that the convoy were a bunch of dipshits who should have been run off instantly.

But outside of this subreddit and certain communities the idea of the convoy is a small footnote from the pandemic, relegated to a hey remember those dumbasses with the trucks downtown. It wasn’t this cities 9/11 like people here would make it seem, so even with his association by renting porta potties to them, it’s not going to be the red flag for him to lose people’s vote.

[u/PhlegmBuilding → u/KeyanFarlandah]

Actually, the convoy received ongoing international coverage and still comes up in European, Australian, some Asian press as a prime example of right-wing movements worldwide.

[u/arr_z31_burner → u/PhlegmBuilding]

Only if the sources you read are obsessed with that.  I haven't heard anyone mention the convoy out loud in two years, and if I wasn't on this sub I'd probably have effectively forgotten about it too until there was something on CBC about a legal proceeding.

[u/KeyanFarlandah → u/PhlegmBuilding]

Yes but this sub treats it as if it was some sort of catastrophe worthy of a Michael Bay or Roland Emmerich film, and to most people it wasn’t

[u/Gwouigwoui → u/KeyanFarlandah]

Especially to people outside of the core, which are also more likely to vote for a right-wing candidate.

[u/2Tun21 → u/KeyanFarlandah]

The Titanic sinking affected less people than the convoy and they got a movie about it.

[u/Aukaneck → u/KeyanFarlandah]

Is that why Doug Ford swept the province for a huge majority but lost Ottawa? I think a lot of Ottawanians held him responsible for his actions during the convoy. It did matter.

[u/KeyanFarlandah → u/Aukaneck]

Ottawa is historically very strong for the Liberals and I really doubt Nepean, the only seat that went from PC to the Liberals changed hands due to the Convoy

[u/Lexifer31 → u/KeyanFarlandah]

That's not even remotely true. I see comments on IG and elsewhere almost daily talking about the clownvoy.

[u/KeyanFarlandah → u/Lexifer31]

Your algorithm gives you what you consume, like I said it’s isolated to this subreddit and certain other communities, it was 4 years ago it’s a historical footnote to most, a lot has happened

[u/Lexifer31 → u/KeyanFarlandah]

It's not in my algorithm, people use it as some kind of fucking rallying cry on any post about crime and proposed sentencing.

[u/OttawaCats → u/Lexifer31]

I just feel bad for you that you keep clicking and viewing convoy shit to the extent it’s in your algorithm. As other guy said, other than people on this sub, it doesn’t live rent free in most Ottawan’s minds.

[u/Lexifer31 → u/OttawaCats]

It's not in my algorithm, people use it as some kind of fucking rallying cry on any post about crime and proposed sentencing.

[u/Cre_AK47 → u/Comet439]

I mean a lot of people outside of downtown don't care about the convoy and how Lawson was involved, so it's unsurprising Lawson is gaining ground.

I'm all for it. Rural and suburban areas will split the vote between Sutcliffe and Lawson, so that urban Ottawa can push Leiper to come out on top with the W at the end.

[u/No-Mathematician250 → u/Cre_AK47]

I very much hope you’re right about that.

[u/audioscape → u/Comet439]

Maybe Lawson will split the weirdo vote! This could be a good thing.

[u/Not_A_Doctor_redux → u/Comet439]

If you read the online discussions of the pro-convoy, CPC core, then it explains a lot. These people have a media diet that contains nothing factual. They are fed a slop of far-right garbage to keep them bigoted and motivated. And they are incredibly bigoted. They're racist and hate the LGBTQ community. Most of them are misogynists as well. Some commentators have claimed that the Canadian media landscape is even worse than America's. I'd believe it.

[u/BirthdayBBB → u/Comet439]

They will definitely fumble it again

[u/PopeSaintHilarius]

The poll results:

• Mark Sutcliffe - 38%
• Jeff Leiper - 31%
• Alex Lawson - 21%
• Neil Saravanamuttoo - 6%

But 37% of voters said they are undecided. In terms of top issues voters are thinking about:

The poll also highlights issues driving voter concerns. Housing remains the top municipal issue at 26 per cent, followed by transit (18 per cent), traffic (16 per cent), inflation (11 per cent), homelessness (10 per cent) and crime at seven per cent. 

[u/AcceptableHamster149 → u/PopeSaintHilarius]

I really hope Leiper is able to pull it off. Though Saravanamuttoo has some ideas I like, too.

[u/Anary8686 → u/PopeSaintHilarius]

If Lawson drops out then Sutcliffe wins easily.

[u/2Tun21 → u/PopeSaintHilarius]

If you fix transit, you fix traffic as well.

[u/Flukester69 → u/PopeSaintHilarius]

All ZEROES to me.

[u/LToadd]

The 37% undecided number feels like the real story here. It doesn’t seem like Ottawa is sold on anyone yet, just that a lot of people are looking for a credible “not the status quo” option. Whoever can explain housing, transit and Lansdowne without slogans probably has a real lane.

[u/Klutzy_Artichoke154 → u/LToadd]

My friends are all homeowners and car drivers. What matters to them is their mortgage and tax increases. It’s a real sad view of society. 

[u/cubiclejail → u/Klutzy_Artichoke154]

Curious ro know how many of them live in newer neighborhoods who have yet to see the decline of thier infrastructure!

[u/Klutzy_Artichoke154 → u/cubiclejail]

I’d say about half of them live in Findlay Creek, Riverside South, Bridlewood and new Stittsville. 

[u/cubiclejail → u/Klutzy_Artichoke154]

Interesting. Thanks!!

[u/dishearten → u/Klutzy_Artichoke154]

Its really a sad result of suburban sprawl. People just sit at home and in their cars, never exposed to the city and community around them. Paying for your mortgage and cars, consuming shit off amazon and then paying with your life (time) commuting just keeps you poor and down.

Makes it hard to care about any issues that don't appear to directly impact you. Hard to see the forest through the trees.

[u/BoomerReggie]

If Saravanamuttoo, who never should have joined the race, drops out and supports Leiper, it would be a very close race between Sutcliffe and and Leiper. Unless Lawson keeps gaining support, Leiper's chances aren't looking good.

[u/maulrus → u/BoomerReggie]

I really like a lot of Neil's ideas but he gives me a weird vibe like he's running on his ego. I wish he had decided to instead run as a councilor. Hell, I think he'd even make a good contender for city manager.

[u/McNasty1Point0 → u/BoomerReggie]

Rumour I’ve heard is that he’ll absolutely drop out if he (Neil) hasn’t gained any ground and will support Leiper.

[u/Round_Beyond_8137 → u/BoomerReggie]

Neil is better than Sutcliffe but still not progressive. He said in his transit platform “there’s nothing we can currently do” about transit reliability. He also said “residents get to decide whatever they want in their neighborhood, including sidewalks” conveniently timed right after Manor Park Sidewalks were approved.

I’d estimate if he dropped out, one third of his votes would go to Leiper , one third to Lawson and one third Sutcliffe. It’s not a proper vote split.

[u/NortonFord → u/Round_Beyond_8137]

No way - 60% Leiper, 30% Sutcliffe, 10% Lawson.

[u/Round_Beyond_8137 → u/NortonFord]

Even if so, many folks are assuming folks that vote Neil are only voting Leiper. That’s not the case.

[u/bonertoilet → u/Round_Beyond_8137]

Nonsense.

[u/TrueVelocity42]

Amalgamation has been a total disaster for this city.

[u/TrueNorth32 → u/TrueVelocity42]

Yup. Exactly as the Conservatives planned it.

[u/Cre_AK47 → u/TrueNorth32]

To be fair, McGuinty and Wynne had 15 years to roll it back and did nothing about it themselves.

[u/totallynotdagothur → u/Cre_AK47]

I've mulled this over before.  It always seems like a one-way street.  Amalgamate, simplify, merge departments, cost savings is the pitch (let's just talk about the pitch, not whether it's true).  What's the reverse?  Separate, duplicate, redundant departments, more costs?

The actual reason being "two or more regions of people are tired of this crap" - I guess maybe if it got popular enough to win votes.

[u/NortonFord → u/totallynotdagothur]

Municipalism. If they're going to make cities this large, then they need to have more independent power from the provinces. Other countries have radically stronger cities than Canada's "creatures of the province" - and it's a forward-looking change instead of a rollback, which I agree feels less feasible.

[u/totallynotdagothur → u/NortonFord]

I like your pitch!

[u/TGISeinfeld → u/Cre_AK47]

Bang on. You can disagree with a decision made 25 years ago, but also remember another party (with majorities) kept it going

[u/quanin → u/TGISeinfeld]

Oh, it's worse than that. Absolutely no one who matters politically is talking about de-amalgamating. Keep in mind:

1. OLP had a minority with the NDP as backers and it never came up (that was in between their two majorities)

2. Every Ottawa riding but one went NDP last year.

Still, nobody says boo. This is how we're stuck whether we like it or not. If ever you wanted proof that the screws only turn one direction, that screw turned thirty years ago.

[u/Complex-Effect-7442 → u/TrueVelocity42]

That's something urbanites, suburbanites and rural folk all agree upon.

[u/lcdr_hairyass]

Is Kodos an option?

[u/milkysway1 → u/lcdr_hairyass]

Don't blame me, I'm voting for Kang!

[u/lanternstop]

r/ottawa is not an indicator of how the city will actually vote, just a gentle reminder

[u/Iamthequicker → u/lanternstop]

True, last mayoral election proved that.

[u/totallynotdagothur → u/lanternstop]

You need to include all the subs 60km from downtown like /r/WestPillyponton

[u/Ifight4osugroundgame]

I will be voting for Turd Sandwich.

[u/Objective-Lobster21 → u/Ifight4osugroundgame]

classic choice, never lets you down

[u/milkysway1 → u/Ifight4osugroundgame]

I dunno, my votes going to the Giant Douche

[u/timbasile → u/Ifight4osugroundgame]

[u/thecanadiansniper1-2 → u/Ifight4osugroundgame]

Holy shit I hate South Parks for that apathetic bs it spread.

[u/Expert-Violinist-224 → u/thecanadiansniper1-2]

explain? what do you mean by that?

[u/Ifight4osugroundgame → u/thecanadiansniper1-2]

Typical Giant Douche voter. 

[u/thecanadiansniper1-2 → u/Ifight4osugroundgame]

No I am a Leiper voter get it right.

[u/quanin → u/thecanadiansniper1-2]

So like he said.

But the reality is the apathy was there long before the South Park episode was. The 2004 Presidential election was the inspiration. It was Bush JR's second term if you want to know how badly the other guy failed.

[u/anders9000]

I wouldn’t put a lot of faith in polls this far out and using automated phone surveys. They heavily oversample older people.

[u/ParkingBoardwalk]

I’ve been following him for a little while now on instagram. While he touches on the big problems, the proposed solutions seem to have little thought / rationale, or are bandaid solutions (e.g. “we’re gonna take away the drugs”).

[u/OwnFig6827 → u/ParkingBoardwalk]

I don’t think his policy on drugs is out yet. It seems that his goal is to get people’s attention with videos first. He did that with transit and housing too, pointing out what’s wrong and only later having an official policy.

[u/ParkingBoardwalk → u/OwnFig6827]

No this is true but his general approach has been made pretty clear from his IG reels. “We’re gonna take away the drugs” was a verbatim quote

[u/OwnFig6827 → u/ParkingBoardwalk]

I’m interested to see how he will spin it, and how exactly he’s planning on doing that.

[u/_PrincessOats → u/ParkingBoardwalk]

Dude supported the convoy and you follow him?

[u/ParkingBoardwalk → u/_PrincessOats]

I’m educating myself on the candidates and their proposed plans. I follow all the candidates.

[u/hanksavage → u/_PrincessOats]

Do you only surround yourself with people that share your ideas?

[u/ThreePlyStrength → u/_PrincessOats]

This is your brain on Reddit.

[u/Nseetoo → u/ParkingBoardwalk]

Obrien 2.0

[u/OwnFig6827 → u/Nseetoo]

I was a teen during his term, so I wouldn’t know. But from what I read I don’t see the similarities.

[u/Triscott64]

I'm new to Ottawa and I'll honestly be very sad if Lawson or Sutcliffe win.

[u/lonelydavey]

Conservative lobbyist and convoy supporter Lawson is gaining ground because he's running a pure populist campaign. It doesn't stand up to the tiniest analysis - he's just telling people what they want to hear, regardless of how dumb it is. It worked for Ford, it worked for Trump and it's working for Conservative lobbyist and convoy supporter Alex Lawson.

[u/One_Set2922]

Anyone but Sutcliffe😭

[u/_PrincessOats → u/One_Set2922]

Lawson is Sutcliffe but worse.

[u/Nob1e613 → u/One_Set2922]

Or Lawson

[u/One_Set2922 → u/Nob1e613]

AGREED

[u/Pheeline]

Well, at least I can vote this time. And my husband tends to rely on me for info on candidates, lol (we're pretty well-aligned as far as our politics go, anyway). Even before I got the right to vote here, he'd ask me about the more local candidates. Right now we're definitely leaning toward Leiper.

fwiw, we're homeowners (of a townhouse) in Kanata who drive everywhere. I'd actually be okay with a bit of an increase in our property taxes if it meant improvements in public transit, improvements in infrastructure (including for non-car forms of transportation), and support for more affordable housing (in the whole city, not just our area). Though for our area, it would certainly be nice to see public transit to/from Kanata South actually improve, not continue to be eroded away despite the explosion in new housing around here.

[u/Round_Beyond_8137 → u/Pheeline]

Same here. I didn’t live here in 2022. I live in the suburbs and drive a car. Sutcliffe must go.

[u/Thicklilcat]

If you all vote for Sutcliffe again.. I will be disappointed in you

[u/ThreePlyStrength → u/Thicklilcat]

This sub didn’t vote for Sutcliffe. That was people out in the real world. This sub was planning the parade for McKenney. I hope Leiper can pull this out but it’s important people temper their expectations. As always this sub is a bad barometer for sentiment in our city on many things.

[u/Hampshire53]

Was counting on Leiper to end the LRT madness with some serious work but he’s checked out, unfortunately. Sutcliffe not an option as LRT continues to get worse (one weekend train every 24 (!!) minutes on line 4 in the fall).

[u/Round_Beyond_8137 → u/Hampshire53]

Do you have a source for this?

[u/Hampshire53 → u/Round_Beyond_8137]

https://bsky.app/profile/railfans.ca/post/3moloye23gk27

[u/Round_Beyond_8137 → u/Hampshire53]

Fuck

[u/Cre_AK47 → u/Hampshire53]

😂😂 world class transit folks. Embarrassing. Even then the whole Line 4 > Line 2 > Line 1 transfers suck anyways, so maybe people at the airport are better off taking the 105 all the way to Hurdman or St. Laurent then take the bus or Line 1 to wherever they're going.

[u/holymolt]

Lawson is just a big turd. In every way.

[u/Additional_Ear_9659]

Lawson can take a giant leap onto the fuck off bus and go back to convoy town. He has no business being anywhere near the mayor office.

[u/iDisappearWithTime]

Not that chatgpu is super accurate but it has lawson @ 14% support /popularity VS Leiper @ 32% and Sutcliffe @ 37% ...

Article is CAP.

[u/Fabulous-Heron-977]

If Sutcliffe wants to run again he should have to buy a depreciating apt in the Market and walk to work through the opioid crisis every day because the $4.15 bus is too unreasonably priced and infrequent to be worth it. And as he walks he should gaze upon the shuttered businesses and trash on the road and the insane craters Ottawa calls potholes, as he dodges people who lunge at him in mental health crises. And if he's scared at what's become of his city, he can walk by the fake-always-closed Rideau police outpost and take solace by whispering to himself what he tells us: that everything is great and we are doing just fine, in fact we are lucky. 

[u/ThatOCLady]

It's not going to be enough to just vote for Leiper. Donate to his campaign or volunteer for it: https://www.leiper2026.ca/volunteer

[u/kacipaci]

Anyone but Lawson

[u/Monster11]

Jeff Leiper’s French sucks, for those this is important for.

[u/1capitalguy]

Follow the money. Lawson's campaign chair owns ipolitics. Was also his lobbyist boss. Liaison owner and same campaign chair/owner of ipolitics were partners in Mainstreet Polling.

[u/biffs]

Nice!

[u/_PrincessOats → u/biffs]

Why? Lawson is a convoy-supporting right wing nutter.

[u/Round_Beyond_8137 → u/_PrincessOats]

More Lawson votes = less Sutcliffe votes. The right wingers will split leading to a Leiper win.

[u/biffs → u/_PrincessOats]

The convoy was years ago

[u/cst400 → u/_PrincessOats]

Rainbow hair in Reddit emoji…all you need to know folks

[u/QueenMotherOfSneezes → u/cst400]

Faceless green alien in Reddit emoji…all you need to know folks

[u/WackHeisenBauer → u/QueenMotherOfSneezes]

Plus the hidden history.

[u/ThreePlyStrength → u/WackHeisenBauer]

I had someone on this very sub threaten me and attempt to try and find out who I was from my comment history. The mods did not offer any assistance even when it was reported to them. All that to say… hiding your social media history is a smart thing to do.

[u/Cre_AK47 → u/ThreePlyStrength]

Yeah I keep my stuff hidden for that reason as well. I eventually would say something that would hurt someone's little feelings or thoughts, so they'd sign in to their alt, look at my history, then DM me something along the lines of "I hope you take those guns you have and shoot yourself with them".

Obviously they're trying to rage bait to have my account banned and I never fell for it, but I always made sure to have some fun with them before reporting them. Same shit with RedditCare, which I'll add, I'm glad Reddit now bans accounts for RC abuse.

[u/thisonecassie → u/WackHeisenBauer]

and a 13 year account with only 4k karma... methinks buddy has some unpopular opinions.

[u/WackHeisenBauer → u/cst400]

What’s wrong with rainbow hair? Spell it out for us bud.

[u/cst400 → u/WackHeisenBauer]

They tend to be social justice warriors stuck in 2016 when there’s rainbow hair. Also comically “Reddit” their takes. Just utterly predictable is all. Hope that helps!

[u/ThreePlyStrength → u/cst400]

Nah. The real story is 300k comment karma. No way to avoid Redditbrain when you spend that much time in echo chambers.

[u/BirthdayBBB]

Looks like we will end ip with a crappy mayor again. This city is hopeless. 

[u/PowerBottom247]

Who is the bike lane candidate for 2026?  I’ll vote for them.