Ottawa Coun. Matthew Luloff charged with impaired driving

Ottawa councillor charged with impaired driving Orléans East-Cumberland councillor Matthew Luloff is facing an impaired driving charge. CTV's Austin Lee reports.

Ottawa Coun. Matthew Luloff is facing a charge of impaired driving, according to his lawyer.

Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon confirms to CTV News Ottawa that Luloff was recently charged with impaired driving.

Court documents reveal Luloff was charged on July 6 with two counts of impaired driving. One of operating a vehicle while impaired to any degree and one count of having a blood alcohol content above 80 mg per 100 mL of blood two hours after ceasing to operate a vehicle.

The charges were laid in the city's east end.

"There was no accident involved. We will be defending Mr. Luloff on the charge and he is to be presumed innocent," Greenspon said Monday afternoon.

When contacted by CTV News Ottawa, Luloff directed all inquiries to his lawyer.

Ottawa police said they would not provide any details.

"As a practice, we do not publicly name persons charged with impaired driving (unless it results in a fatal collision or life-threatening injuries)," police told CTV News Ottawa.

The charge has not been proven in court.

Luloff represents the Ottawa ward of Orléans East-Cumberland, and currently serves as chair of the Ottawa Public Library Board.

Last November, the Conservative Party of Canada announced Luloff would be the candidate in the riding of Orléans in the next federal election. The Conservative Party tells CTV News Ottawa that Luloff resigned his candidacy on July 10 "due to a personal matter."

Luloff was born and raised in Ottawa's east end. He served with the Governor General's Foot Guards and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

Greenspon says the case is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 8.

Orléans residents who spoke to CTV News Ottawa on Monday expressed disappointment at the news.

"It's not good to hear. He's a public figure. He should set an example," said Raj Chawla. "After all, he's a politician and people do read about him, you know?"

Valerie Charbonneau said Orléans is a very drive-friendly part of the city, and all drivers should be responsible.

"Lots of kids running around and families, and a very outdoorsy kind of area. You want everybody to be safe, regardless of whether they hold office or not."

That was a sentiment echoed by Diane Teala.

"We need to be more responsible and it doesn't matter if you are a councillor or if you're just a regular person," she said.

--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Shaun Vardon