Here are five developments shaping Ottawa and the National Capital Region today, with context on why they matter.
Ottawa votes today as a late poll points to a closer mayoral race
Ottawa residents are choosing a mayor, city councillors and school board trustees today, with voting stations open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., CTV News Ottawa reports. Mayoral candidates made their final pitches over the weekend. A Quorus Consulting poll of 807 Ottawa residents, conducted Oct. 8 to 15 and reported by the Ottawa Citizen, put Mark Sutcliffe at 28 per cent and Jeff Leiper at 24 per cent, with Neil Saravanamuttoo at seven and Alex Lawson at four. One-third of respondents were undecided, would not vote or preferred not to say, and Quorus said no margin of error could be calculated because it used an opt-in online panel. Toronto voters are also choosing a mayor today. With so many voters uncommitted in that survey, turnout today could decide how close Ottawa’s race ends up. Sources: CTV News Ottawa, CTV News Ottawa (final pitches), Ottawa Citizen via Yahoo News and CTV News Toronto.
Carney opens First Nations-First Ministers meeting as three premiers stay away
Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to host a joint First Ministers’ meeting with First Nations leaders in the capital at 8:45 a.m. today, followed by a media availability at 3:30 p.m., according to his itinerary. At Sunday’s AFN-organized day of ceremony, which included a tobacco ceremony at the Diefenbaker Building, five premiers took part: Tony Wakeham, Susan Holt, Rob Lantz, Wab Kinew and R.J. Simpson, The Canadian Press reports. Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Aulty represented the prime minister, while the premiers of Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia were expected to skip today’s closed-door talks. A key concern is Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, which would apply a one project, one review, one year approach to large projects; some leaders fear it could sidestep Ottawa’s duty to consult, but Aulty said “the duty to consult remains.” It is the first gathering of its kind since the 2005 Kelowna talks, and how it goes will signal whether Ottawa’s fast-track agenda can win First Nations support. Sources: Prime Minister’s Office, The Canadian Press via CP24 and The Canadian Press via Global News.
Trump says Canada trade fight will be settled ‘pretty soon’ as talks regain momentum
At a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said of the trade dispute with Canada, “We’ll have that settled pretty soon,” The Canadian Press reports. He also claimed, without evidence, that Canada has been ripping off the United States, CTV News notes. Formal talks broke down in August, when Prime Minister Mark Carney said the U.S. made last-minute demands, but multiple government and industry sources told CTV News that negotiations have recently restarted in earnest, with possible progress on auto tariffs. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc cancelled a New Brunswick trip on Friday to stay in Ottawa, and White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett has said a deal is close. Sources caution an agreement is far from certain, and the U.S. midterm elections are on Nov. 3. Any deal would directly affect Canadian exporters and the tariffs Ottawa imposed in retaliation. Sources: The Canadian Press via The Chronicle Journal and CTV News via CP24.
Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince begins two-day visit to Ottawa
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, is visiting Ottawa on Oct. 26 and 27 to meet Prime Minister Mark Carney, according to the Prime Minister’s Office and The National. Ottawa says the visit aims to widen the Canada-UAE partnership into defence and security, energy, critical minerals, infrastructure, space, and quantum and artificial intelligence. The two countries concluded a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in July 2026 after 47 days of negotiations, and an investment protection agreement took effect in May. The UAE has committed $70 billion in investment in Canada, announced during Carney’s November 2025 visit, while two-way merchandise trade was $3.5 billion in 2025. Carney is scheduled to host a dinner in the Crown Prince’s honour at 6 p.m. The visit is part of Ottawa’s push to deepen economic ties beyond the United States as the trade fight with Washington continues. Sources: Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister’s Office (itinerary) and The National.
Lula wins a fourth term in Brazil as rival Flávio Bolsonaro demands annulment
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Sunday’s runoff with 51.8 per cent of the vote, a margin of nearly 4.4 million votes with all ballots counted, The Associated Press reports. Flávio Bolsonaro, who led the first round 47 per cent to 45 per cent, refused to concede and called for the results to be annulled, pointing to a last-minute two-hour extension of voting. It is the first time since 1985 that a first-round runner-up has won Brazil’s presidency, and Lula, soon to turn 81, begins his new term on Jan. 5, 2027. According to AP, the result ends a run of seven straight conservative presidential victories in Latin America over 18 months. Lula is a vocal critic of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has imposed high tariffs on Brazilian exports. For Canadians, the outcome keeps in power a leader whose country, like Canada, is facing steep U.S. tariffs. Sources: The Associated Press via CBS News and The Associated Press via CTV News.
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