Former Ontario MPP Lisa MacLeod will not be running for mayor in Ottawa’s upcoming municipal election. In a live video address on her business’ Facebook page on Friday afternoon, MacLeod put to bed rumours that she would be a candidate on this October’s ballot, saying instead that she would continue pursuing professional endeavours. “I’m going to take the road less travelled, with less Ottawa traffic, and I will not be running for mayor,” MacLeod said. Rumours of MacLeod’s potential candidacy began to swirl earlier this month after she said a post on her Facebook page expressing frustrations with the city accumulated more than 19,000 views. “The post was not intended as a political announcement. It was the frustration of a private citizen who has lived in Ottawa for nearly 30 years (before amalgamation) and who believes our city can, and should, do better,” Macleod said in a July 22 Facebook post. “But given my extensive political executive background and given the decisions I may or may not make late August, I want you to know that I am reading your comments carefully. I appreciate the thoughtful ideas, the personal stories, and even the criticism.” MacLeod ended her Friday afternoon video address with a call to action for Ottawa’s voters. “Do you believe Ottawa is a better place, safer place and stronger place than it was four years ago? And I want you to listen carefully to your own answer and to the questions that the people representing you or seeking to represent you are providing and question their spin,” MacLeod said. “Judge every single candidate on their results, not their slogans.” MacLeod served six terms as a Member of Provincial Parliament in Ottawa between 2006 and 2025. She was the minister of children community and social services and minister of tourism, culture and sport between 2018 and 2022 in Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet. There are currently six candidates registered to run for mayor in the upcoming election, including incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Kitchessippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, homebuilder Alex Lawson, economist Neil Saravanamuttoo, Zed Chebib and Peter Westaway.
