Battle for Ottawa Centre on after McKenna departure

With Infrastructure MinisterCatherine McKennaleaving federal politics, an important void remainsin central Ottawa.

In 2019, McKenna won with more than 48 per centof the vote, beating the NDP by 15,475 ballots.

While some speculated former governor of the Bank of Canada Mark Carney would take her place, hedecided not to run.

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A number of candidates have decided to give it their best shot andtry to win the smallestgeographicalriding in the region:

• Grad studentShelby Bertrand again running for the Animal Protection Party.
• Conservative Carol Clemenhagen, who's been an executive fornational hospital organizations and worked with grassroots environmental groups in the Thousand Islands region.
• Independent Rich Joyal,
• Economist Angella MacEwenfor the NDP, who ran for the party in Ottawa WestNepeanin 2019.
• Retired trade unionist and activist Alex McDonald is running for the Communist Party of Canada.
• The formerMPP for Ottawa Centre,Yasir Naqvi, for the Liberals.
• Economist and eco-friendly B&B manager Angela Keller-Herzogfor the Greens.
• Regina Watteelis running for the People's Party of Canada.

Ottawa Centre in 2019