1976 Ottawa municipal election

Results by ward

Candidates

Bill Foster, 27, owner of Tender Touch, a massage parlour. Entered the race after several raids on his business. Ran on a law and order platform, promising to reduce violent crime in the city, and better security at local detention centres. He also supported the reduction in speed limits on residential streets, revitalization of the city core, reduction of red tape and taxes on small business, and opposed the development of satellite cities outside the Ottawa Greenbelt. He lived in Kanata.^[1]

Lorry Greenberg, 42, incumbent mayor of the city since 1974, and former alderman and controller. Previously worked as a home builder, and was vice president of Minto Construction Ltd. Ran on his record of neighbourhood planning, community involvement in civic affairs, and "keeping a reasonably firm grip on the city's purse strings". As mayor, he attracted attention for his opposition to body rub parlours, and for calling out the federal government for "failing to deal openly and equally with the city on planning matters".^[2]

Alphonse Lapointe, 53, businessman, owner of Wheel-a-Way Transport, Ltd., a tree pruning and lighting maintenance firm. Perennial candidate for mayor. Promised free parking at the Civic Centre and at local hospitals, astroturf at Lansdowne Park, lower housing costs, more industry in the city, elderly and handicapped exemptions to property taxes, and opposed the city's new anti-smoking by-law.^[3]

Mike Sammon, 33, OC Transpo bus driver, and owner of a small pet cemetery. Previously ran for deputy reeve of Nepean in 1974 and as an Independent candidate in the 1975 Ontario general election in Carleton. He ran on a platform of putting "healthy welfare recipients to work", creating a task force to investigate welfare cases, "cutting back on... overpaid bureaucrats", and more spending on fire and police services.^[4]