Three of the four top mayoral candidates say they are planning to attend the Capital Pride Parade this weekend. In statements to CTV News Ottawa, candidates Mark Sutcliffe, Jeff Leiper and Neil Saravanamuttoo said they would attend Sunday’s event. Alex Lawson was the lone dissenter among the candidates contacted by CTV News, referring to the organization behind the parade as “divisive.” “If the Pride parade was about celebrating people having the opportunity to love who they love, then I would definitely be there marching alongside them,” Lawson said in a statement. “But the fact is that Capital Pride specifically has been very divisive over the last few years. There’s been a lot of controversies surrounding the group. They’ve been very exclusionary.” The Capital Pride Parade was cancelled shortly after it began last year after a pro-Palestinian group blocked the parade route near Parliament Hill. In 2024, Sutcliffe and several organizations did not participate in the parade after Capital Pride issued a statement expressing solidarity with Palestinians. Lawson says he would be attending a breakfast event on Thursday in partnership with Operation Come Home, a non-profit that helps youth experiencing homelessness. Sutcliffe’s campaign said the incumbent mayor plans to participate in several Pride-related events, in addition to the Pride Parade on Sunday. Leiper’s campaign also noted that the outgoing councillor and mayoral hopeful has been attending Pride-related events throughout the week, while also noting that some candidates “have decided they can’t make it to the parade.” “Jeff thinks that when a community asks you to show up, you show up. At the debate, at the community fair, and in the march,” a spokesperson said in a statement to CTV News. “Homophobia and transphobia permeate too much of society, and it is really important that, whoever is elected mayor, the city of Ottawa will continue to recognize and validate the existence of queer and trans people in this city,” Leiper said. Saravanamuttoo said he will be “very happy” to march in the Pride Parade this weekend. “It’s important that we show solidarity with the LGBTQ community,” Saravanamuttoo said in a statement. “According to Statistics Canada, support for gender diversity has weakened in recent years, and it’s critical public figures do what they can to help shape attitudes for a more tolerant society”. Zed Chebib, Peter Westaway, Suraj Harish, Queen Divine Priya Amber Bakshi, Bernard Couchman, Ali Shayvard, Jacob Solomon, Amjad Ali Syed, Josh Rachlis and Geoff Nicholas are also running for mayor. Ottawa residents will head to the polls on Oct. 26.
