Ottawa South

Ottawa South is a suburban riding in the southern portion of the City of Ottawa, stretching from the Rideau River westward through a mix of established residential neighbourhoods and newer developments near the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. The riding includes the communities of Alta Vista, Riverside Park, Billings Bridge, Heron Park, Hunt Club, South Keys, Greenboro, Ellwood, and Blossom Park.

Candidates

David McGuinty (Liberal) — McGuinty was the incumbent MP for Ottawa South, first elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2006 and 2008. A bilingual environmental lawyer, he held a law degree and a Master of Laws from the London School of Economics. Before entering politics, he served as president and CEO of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy from 1995 to 2004. Earlier in his career, he worked for UNICEF across West and Central Africa as an external relations officer and practised corporate law at the London-based firm Gouldens Solicitors. He also served as a national program director for Lead, a leadership development organization. In the 40th Parliament, he had served as the Liberal Opposition House Leader. He was the brother of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Elie Salibi (Conservative) — Salibi was a business executive who held a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Ottawa. He had served as director of international sales at Corel Corporation, the Ottawa-based software company. He had also run as the Conservative candidate in Ottawa South in the 2008 election.

James McLaren (NDP) — McLaren was a teacher who stood as the NDP candidate for the riding.

Mick Kitor (Green Party) — Kitor ran as the Green Party candidate in Ottawa South.

Al Gullon (PC Party) and Mike Bleskie (Pirate Party) also stood as candidates.

About the Riding

Ottawa South is a generally middle-class suburban riding with a notably diverse population. The riding has one of the highest concentrations of residents of Arab origin in Ontario, particularly in the Hunt Club and Heron Gate neighbourhoods, where Arabic is a widely spoken mother tongue. The riding's demographics also include significant South Asian and East African communities, contributing to a vibrant multicultural character.

The federal public service is the dominant employer for residents, with many commuting to government offices across the National Capital Region. The proximity of the Ottawa International Airport, located within the riding's boundaries, supports aviation, logistics, and hospitality employment. The South Keys and Billings Bridge shopping areas serve as commercial anchors, while the Riverside Hospital (now part of The Ottawa Hospital) provides healthcare services to the south end.

Alta Vista, in the riding's northeast, is an established neighbourhood of single-family homes built primarily in the 1950s and 1960s, while the areas near South Keys and Hunt Club saw significant new residential construction through the 2000s. Key local issues heading into the 2011 election included transit access for the growing southern suburbs, affordable housing pressures in areas like Heron Gate, the economic impact of potential federal public service cuts, and infrastructure demands driven by the riding's expanding population.