Mark Sutcliffe registers to run for mayor

Mark Sutcliffe, a former CityNews Ottawa talk show host, entrepreneur and author, has registered to run for mayor. 

Sutcliffe made it official on June 29. 

“I am excited and grateful today as I officially register as a candidate to be the next mayor of Ottawa in the best city in Canada, and a place I'm proud to call my hometown,” said Sutcliffe during his announcement in Kanata. “This is the city that welcomed my father when he moved to Canada as a young man. It's the city that welcomed my mother and her family when they immigrated to Canada from Asia as a family of mixed race. I am so lucky to have lived my entire life in Ottawa. I've had the opportunity to work in the media, to be a business leader, to work alongside some amazing community builders, and to raise a family here.”

Sutcliffe said there are many issues that are of concern to him as he announced his bid to become the next mayor of Ottawa. 

“Ottawa has always been considered a great place to live and work,” he said. “But we are on the verge of some new and significant challenges. Our city is in an affordability crisis. Inflation is on the rise, and there is significant fear that a recession is just around the corner. We are facing a reliability crisis in our public transit system, and we need to improve our roads. On these issues and more, we need new leadership in Ottawa.”

Sutcliffe said the people of Ottawa deserve a fair and balanced response to these issues, and need a new, non-partisan and collaborative approach without political ideology.

“Wherever you live in this city, wherever you come from, whatever you do, I have one promise to you: As your mayor I will work hard, every single day, to make Ottawa safe, reliable, and affordable for you, for your family, and for everyone,” he said. 

Walter Robinson, a political commentator, told The Sam Laprade Show on Wednesday, June 29 that Sutcliffe's inclusion in the mayoral race is a game changer. 

Robinson said Sutcliffe's experience as a journalist, combined with his entrepreneurship ventures and his impressive community involvement makes him an ideal candidate. 

“He listens, he learns and he leads,” said Robinson of Sutcliffe. “He's a clear communicator and a refreshing non political candidate.”

Current Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson revealed he is not seeing re-election, and several other councillors have made their intentions known that they will not be running again. 

Brandon Bay, Bob Chiarelli, Bernard Couchman, Graham MacDonald, Catherine McKenney, Ade Olumide, and Param Singh have all announced they are running for mayor. 

The municipal election is October 24. 

Listen to the full interview with Walter Robinson below: