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Catherine McKenney running for mayor with platform emphasizing affordability

A view of the Parliament buildings is seen over a forested area on a cloudy day.
Councillor Catherine McKenney of Somerset Ward announced their intention to run for mayor on Friday, following Jim Watson announcing he won't run for reelection. Photo by Tetyana Kovyrina.
Meara Belanger - CHUO - Ottawa • ON | 16-12-2021
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Coun. Catherine McKenney announced their candidacy for the 2022 mayoral election on Friday.

The Somerset Ward councillor made the announcement after four-term incumbent Jim Watson said he wasn’t running for reelection next year.

Prior to holding a position on city council, McKenney worked in the offices of city councillors Diane Holmes, their predecess

or, and Alex Munter, as well as federal members of Parliament Ed Broadbent and Paul Dewar.

McKenney announced their candidacy via Twitter.

A Twitter post that reads, "I am excited today to be running for mayor in 2022. I've heard from many of you across the city about the kind of Ottawa we want to build and the challenges we face. Keep those bold ideas coming. Ottawa is a great city. Together, we can make it even better!" Below it is a picture of three people holding a cake with the number 14 on it.

Catherine McKenney announced their candidacy for the 2022 mayoral race via Twitter on Friday. Photo by Catherine McKenney.

“I am excited today to be running for mayor in 2022,” McKenney wrote. “I've heard from many of you across the city about the kind of Ottawa we want to build and the challenges we face.”

McKenney has been instrumental in directing city council on behalf of Somerset Ward residents. They have been a champion of increasing the affordability of transit in Ottawa, as well as an advocate for a judicial inquiry into the faulty O-Train system.

Elected as councillor for Somerset Ward in 2014, McKenney has served on city council for nearly eight years. They were reelected in 2018 with an overwhelming 76 per cent of the vote.

McKenney says they have been engaged in discussions with residents and has fielded some “tough questions” since announcing their candidacy.

“How do you afford some of the things you talk about?” says McKenney. “How do we make housing really affordable for everyone? How do we ensure that we do move towards much more affordable transit, but also transit that functions well, that shows up when you need it, where you need it. And I say, ‘You know what? This is about our priorities.’ And I want to hear from you. We need to have these conversations about what the priorities are for the citizens of Ottawa.”

McKenney, who has been a vocal ally of the LGBTQ2+ community, is openly gay and non-binary themselves. They were the first openly gay person to serve on Ottawa’s city council. If elected in 2022, McKenney would be Ottawa’s second openly gay mayor, after Jim Watson, and its first non-binary mayor.

Councillor Diane Deans and former Ottawa mayor and councillor Bob Chiarelli also announced their candidacy on Friday.

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