George Darouze, the three-term Ottawa city councillor for the rural ward of Osgoode, will run to represent the area in the next provincial election.
On Sunday, the Progressive Conservatives announced Darouze’s successful nomination in the provincial riding of Carleton, touting the infrastructure improvements that have occurred under his watch.
Darouze moved to the Ottawa area from Lebanon in 1990, becoming involved in the telecommunications industry and community groups — particularly around snowmobiling — according to his biography on the city’s website.
He was first elected to Ottawa city council in 2014 and was re-elected twice, fending off a tough challenge from former city councillor Doug Thompson in 2022.
Darouze recently pushed back against the city’s vacant unit tax and has also opposed councillors approaching developers for voluntary donations.
He was seen texting while driving during a livestream of a city committee meeting in 2020. He later apologized and went to a police station to pay a fine.
Osgoode to Carleton
Communities such as Metcalfe, Greely and Osgoode make up both the ward and the eastern part of the riding.
Darouze will now be looking to connect with voters west of the Rideau River from Stittsville to Richmond and North Gower.
Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre represents Carleton federally.
The incumbent Member of Provincial Parliament is Goldie Ghamari, twice elected as a Progressive Conservative for the riding but kicked out of caucus earlier this year after meeting with a far-right British activist and anti-Islam campaigner.
Ontario’s Liberals have nominated software developer and 2022 mayoral candidate Brandon Bay in Carleton. The NDP and Greens have not announced a candidate.
The next provincial election must be held by June 2026, though there is speculation it will come earlier. Ottawa’s next municipal election will be held in October 2026.
City council decides on next steps once a seat becomes vacant.