Incumbent Liberal seeks re-election in Ottawa Centre against prominent NDP contender

Liberal Incumbent Yasir Naqvi Faces Serious Challenge in Ottawa Centre Riding

In the 2025 Canadian federal election, Yasir Naqvi, the incumbent Liberal MP for Ottawa Centre, is feeling the heat from his competitors. Former NDP MPP Joel Harden, who previously defeated Naqvi in the 2018 provincial vote, poses a significant threat in the riding.

Ottawa Centre, which encompasses much of downtown Ottawa including Parliament Hill, has seen its share of political transitions between the Liberals and NDP over the years at both the federal and provincial levels.

Historically, Ottawa Centre has been a hotly contested battleground, with the Liberals and NDP taking turns holding the seat. In the most recent federal election, Naqvi won it back for the Liberals, but with just 45% of the vote, a considerably lower margin than in previous years.

Harden, who represented Ottawa Centre provincially for the NDP from 2018 to 2025, is seizing this opportunity to challenge Naqvi in the federal race. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party's candidate, Paul D'Orsonnens, a former Canadian Armed Forces member, is being supported by the Tories, who have not won the riding since a 1978 byelection.

The Green candidate, Amanda Rosenstock, brings her experience in policy analysis and community organizing to the table, with a focus on delivering world-class public transit, affordable homes, and healthcare.

Due to population changes, the Ottawa Centre riding went through a redistribution in 2022. This redistribution moved McKellar Park and Clarington neighbourhoods on the west side of Ottawa Centre to Ottawa-West Nepean, and added neighborhoods around Mooney's Bay, Riverside Park, and Heron Park, which had previously been part of Ottawa South. Naqvi has taken it upon himself to introduce himself to the residents of these new areas and ensure they are aware of the boundary changes.

Naqvi believes the riding remains a stronghold for his party, but the impact of the boundary changes on the election results remains uncertain. He is hearing concerns from voters regarding Donald Trump, Canada's political and economic independence, housing markets, and downtown Ottawa revitalization.

As both the Liberals and Conservatives have seen a dramatic shift in the polls since Justin Trudeau's resignation and the trade war with the U.S., a new factor in the race is the Liberal Party's new leader, Mark Carney. Carney, who boasts extensive experience as the former governor of both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, is being credited for the party's surge in the polls.

Harden, on the other hand, is focusing on public transit as the primary issue in his campaign, advocating for a direct allocation-based funding system to provide regular injections of transit operating money from the federal government to help improve bus and rail service in cities across Canada.

Advanced polls will be open from April 18 to April 21, and voters can also vote by mail if they apply for a ballot by April 22. The voting day is scheduled for April 28.

Background

The Ottawa Centre riding has been a long-standing Liberal-NDP battleground, with the parties exchanging control at both the federal and provincial levels. In the most recent contest, Yasir Naqvi took the seat back for the Liberals in the 2021 election. However, he faces serious competition in the 2025 election from Joel Harden, who beat him in the 2018 provincial vote. The Conservatives and Greens are also fielding candidates in the race. Due to population changes, the boundaries of the riding were restructured in 2022, adding neighborhoods around Mooney's Bay, Riverside Park, and Heron Park. Naqvi campaigned extensively in these new areas to introduce himself to residents and ensure they are aware of the changes. Key issues in the riding include housing affordability, the economy, and the impact of the U.S. on Canada's political and economic independence.

Major Candidates

Yasir Naqvi (Liberal): Incumbent MP for Ottawa Centre. Faces competition from Joel Harden and other candidates in the 2025 election. Focused on addressing housing affordability, economic concerns, and maintaining Canada's independence from U.S. threats.
Joel Harden (NDP): Former NDP MPP who beat Yasir Naqvi in the 2018 provincial vote. Representing the federal NDP in the 2025 election. Emphasizing the need for improved public transit and fighting for regular federal funding for municipalities to maintain and expand bus and rail service.
Paul D'Orsonnens (Conservative): Former Canadian Armed Forces member running for the Conservatives in a riding the party has not won since a 1978 byelection.
Amanda Rosenstock (Green): Bringing experience in policy analysis and community organizing, Amanda Rosenstock is the Green Party's candidate in Ottawa Centre. Focusing on delivering world-class public transit, affordable homes, and healthcare.

Yasir Naqvi, the Liberal incumbent MP for Ottawa Centre, is facing a significant challenge in the 2025 Canadian federal election, with Joel Harden, the former NDP MPP who beat Naqvi in the 2018 provincial vote, being a prominent threat.
Ottawa Centre, encompassing much of downtown Ottawa including Parliament Hill, has been a long-standing Liberal-NDP battleground, with both parties exchanging control at both the federal and provincial levels.
In the 2021 federal election, Yasir Naqvi won back Ottawa Centre for the Liberals, but with a lower margin than in previous years, indicating a hotly contested race.
Joel Harden, who represented Ottawa Centre provincially for the NDP from 2018 to 2025, is capitalizing on this opportunity to challenge Naqvi in the federal race.
The Green candidate, Amanda Rosenstock, is focusing her campaign on delivering world-class public transit, affordable homes, and healthcare, leveraging her experience in policy analysis and community organizing.
With the Conservatives not winning Ottawa Centre since a 1978 byelection, their candidate, Paul D'Orsonnens, a former Canadian Armed Forces member, is being supported by the Tories.
In an effort to address concerns from voters regarding the U.S., housing markets, and downtown Ottawa revitalization, Yasir Naqvi is introducing himself to residents in the newly restructured Ottawa Centre riding, which includes neighborhoods around Mooney's Bay, Riverside Park, and Heron Park.
The Liberal Party's new leader, Mark Carney, is being credited for a surge in the party's polls due to his extensive experience as the former governor of both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England.