FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA — October 7, 2026 — Bernard Couchman, candidate for Mayor of Ottawa, is calling on Ottawa to think beyond making history—and focus on making the right history.
Couchman’s campaign is built around the Couchman Municipal Re-Engineering Plan, a proposed approach to municipal government based on five principles:
Civic Commitment • Fiscal Discipline • Asset-to-Enterprise • Economic Resilience • A Greener Ottawa
“History is not just about who holds the office,” said Couchman. “It is about what we do with the responsibility once we get there.”
Couchman’s platform proposes a different approach to City Hall:
KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE.
PUT IT TO WORK.
MEASURE THE RESULT.
BUILD WHAT COMES NEXT.
The plan calls for identifying underused municipal capacity, examining opportunities to support Ottawa businesses and SMEs, establishing proposed Indigenous Economic Zones across all 24 wards, reviewing major expenditures and procurement, evaluating new revenue opportunities, improving environmental performance and publishing measurable financial and service results.
Couchman also proposes a First 100 Days framework focused on establishing baselines, reviewing municipal assets and contracts, identifying viable opportunities, launching selected pilots and independently verifying results.
His campaign represents his fourth municipal election cycle—2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026—continuing what he describes as a long-term civic commitment to Ottawa.
“Being the first Black Mayor would be historic,” Couchman said. “But making history the right way means leaving Ottawa stronger, greener, more accountable and more economically resilient than we found it.”
Bernard Couchman
Candidate for Mayor of Ottawa — 2026
KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE. PUT IT TO WORK. MEASURE THE RESULT. BUILD WHAT COMES NEXT.
A GREENER CITY. IF WE PLANT NO TREES, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.
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