Ottawa mayor Mark Sutcliffe picked up a high-profile endorsement this week from former prime minister Jean Chretien, who turned out to back the incumbent's re-election bid at a francophone-focused campaign event in the city.
A New Chapter for Ottawa's Francophone Community
The event was held Tuesday evening, September 22, at La Nouvelle Scene in Ottawa, where Sutcliffe unveiled his platform for the city's francophone community ahead of the October 26 municipal election.
Chretien Says He'll Vote for Sutcliffe
Among those seated in the front row was Chretien himself, who told the room he would be voting for Sutcliffe. "Mark does excellent work. That's why I'm very glad to support him again," Chretien said. At 92, the former prime minister said he still spends a large part of the year living in Ottawa, and his appearance gave the evening a boost of star power heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
Community Support and Guests of Honour
Madeleine Meilleur, the former Ontario minister for francophone affairs, announced during the event that the francophone community had raised more than $55,000 for Sutcliffe's campaign. In his speech, Sutcliffe singled out Meilleur and Ottawa-Vanier-Gloucester Liberal MP Mona Fortier as "legends" of the Francophonie, naming them among the evening's guests of honour and underscoring the political weight the campaign is placing behind francophone outreach.
The Ottawa Angle
Francophone voters make up a meaningful share of the city's electorate, and Tuesday's event at La Nouvelle Scene, one of Ottawa's key francophone cultural venues, was a deliberate play for that base ahead of the vote. The bilingualism review and the Francophonie Summit funding both hinge on Sutcliffe winning re-election, meaning francophone residents now have a concrete set of promises to weigh against his record. Whether Chretien's endorsement and the funding pledges move the needle will become clearer as the campaign heads into its final weeks before residents cast their ballots.
Sources: ONFR (TFO), Le Droit, La Tribune
