Better Ottawa New Candidates for Mayor and Orleans-East
Jan 23, 2026
A busy week in local politics with a councillor facing impaired driving charges and questions about electability. A new candidate steps forward for Orleans-East and another joins the mayoral race with notable conservative backing. Public consultations on Ottawa–Montreal high-speed rail spark debate over station location. Fresh LRT bearing failures lead to inspections and uncertainty about service and costs.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Councillor Luloff's Court Case Recap
- John Willing recapped Matthew Luloff's DUI court testimony and arrest details from July 2024.
- The trial included defence claims about charter breaches and a judge decision due around Feb 27, 2026.
Political Damage Can Outlast Legal Outcome
- Joanne Cianello observed the political damage from the charges may already be done regardless of verdict.
- She noted past cases where charged incumbents still won, so voter response is unpredictable.
New Orleans-East Candidate Introduced
- Neil announced Barbara Daniela Gandolfo as a new candidate for Orleans-East Cumberland and invited her to Better Ottawa events.
- Joanne said Barbara is active locally and has a short video explaining transit and service concerns.