Catherine McKenney announces two high-profile endorsements

With one week to go until municipal election day in Ottawa, the mayoral race continues to heat up between the two perceived frontrunners. 

The Catherine McKenney camp came out swinging over the weekend, announcing two high-profile endorsements. Former Environment Minister Catherine McKenna is throwing her support behind McKenney, as well as the former governor of the Bank of Canada, Mark Carney. 

Carney has praised McKenney's leadership, including their response during the so-called 'Freedom Convoy' demonstrations.

“One candidate stands heads and shoulders above the rest and that's Catherine McKenney,” Carney said in a video released on Twitter. “Catherine is a proven leader, with experience at City Hall. Catherine respects the value of the taxpayer's dollar, which is why they have released a fully costed financial plan. During the convoy, Catherine was on the streets — backing the rights of all people in Ottawa. While some others hid or used it as a photo op, Catherine was there for us.”

Proud to support ⁦@cmckenney⁩ for our next mayor. Catherine knows how City Council works, supports smart, green development, has a fully costed program that prudently uses our tax dollars, & will continue to stand up for all to make Ottawa an even better place for everyone. pic.twitter.com/jtYUGA3GVm

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) October 16, 2022

We're lucky good people are running for Mayor. The choice is clear for me: I want someone who will invest to build a better city instead of making cuts. Who is committed to ambitious climate action. Who is experienced & will stand up for Ottawa. That's why I'm voting @cmckenney. pic.twitter.com/MBj9DTlPWX

— Catherine McKenna (@cathmckenna) October 15, 2022

Meantime, endorsements for Mark Sutcliffe cross party lines, from Conservative Senator Marjory LeBreton to Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi — as well as several former Ottawa mayors. 

In a release, the Sutcliffe camp said leaders from throughout Ottawa and across the political spectrum are rallying to support his bid to become the city's next mayor. 

Those endorsements include:

• Zaff Ansari
• Chandra Arya
• John Baird
• Stephen Blais
• Rainer Bloess
• Don Boudria
• Claudette Cain
• Jean Cloutier
• Brian Coburn
• Jim Durrell
• Eli El-Chantiry
• John Fraser
• Jan Harder
• Andy Haydon
• Katherine Hobbs
• Jackie Holzman
• Peter Hume
• Lyse-Pascale Inamuco
• Marie-France Lalonde
• Marjory LeBreton
• Lisa MacLeod
• David McGuinty
• Phil McNeely
• Maria McRae
• Madeleine Meilleur
• Bob Monette
• Yasir Naqvi
• Michael Qaqish
• Jenna Sudds

“The message of our campaign is resonating with people across the city – rural, suburban and urban Ottawa,” noted Sutcliffe. “I am proud that current and former elected leaders and candidates in Ottawa, representing all sides of the political spectrum, are throwing their support behind me and trust me to do the job of leading Ottawa as we work together to build a better city. Among our co-chairs and volunteers are people who have been elected in, have run in, or have volunteered on municipal, provincial, and federal election campaigns, for every major party. That's the kind of coalition and consensus-building that I intend to bring to city hall.”