Ottawa South is a suburban, generally middle class riding, notable for having the highest Arab population in Ontario.

However, in the 2006 election, they lost some of this support, but it was gained from lower income areas such as Heron Gate.

[2] [3] [4][5] Ethnic groups: 52.2% White, 14.7% Black, 12.4% Arab, 4.9% South Asian, 3.6% Indigenous, 3.3% Chinese, 2.2% Filipino, 1.8% Latin American, 1.6% West Asian, 1.2% Southeast Asian, Languages: 51.1% English, 10.6% French, 9.7% Arabic, 2.1% Somali, 1.8% Spanish, 1.5% Mandarin, 1.0% Italian, 1.0% Tagalog Religions: 51.1% Christian (28.0% Catholic, 3.4% Anglican, 3.1% Christian Orthodox, 2.7% United Church, 1.3% Pentecostal, 12.6% Other), 18.1% Muslim, 1.6% Hindu, 1.1% Jewish, 25.9% None Median income: $42,000 (2020) Average income: $55,600 (2020) Riding associations are the local branches of national political parties: The list of registered riding associations is available from Elections Canada.

Following the 1996 redistribution, the riding added the neighbourhood of Hunt Club Park from Carleton—Gloucester, by changing the southeastern boundary to the city limits at the time (from Walkley to Conroy).

Following the 2003 redistribution, the riding's eastern boundary was changed to Highway 417 from the former city limits.

[6] Incumbent Liberal MP David McGuinty faced a re-match against local businessman Eli Tannis of the Conservative Party.

[8] McGuinty easily won re-election with a slightly reduced majority, while the NDP had its strongest federal result in the riding's history, besting its prior high-water mark in 2011.

Incumbent MP David McGuinty ran for re-election, and was challenged by Conservative Eli Tannis, a Lebanese-Canadian entrepreneur,[10] New Democrat Morgan Gay, a community organizer[11] and Green Les Schram, a self employed consultant.

[12] Despite winning 5,000 fewer votes than he had four years earlier, he easily held off the challenge from his nearest (Conservative) rival, with more than double the latter's total.

The Conservative candidate was Elie Salibi, the director of international sales with Corel, who was born in Lebanon.

The NDP candidate was Hijal De Sarkar, a Carleton University political science student of Bengali descent.

Former Libertarian Party leader Jean-Serge Brisson also ran, as well as Al Gullon, the Progressive Canadian candidate.

Facing lower turnout in the riding itself, as well as nationwide, and a strong lack of enthusiasm for the Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, McGuinty was able to increase his vote total, and his lead over his closest opponent, from the 2006 election.

McGuinty just barely missed the 50% mark, but was nonetheless re-elected handily in Ottawa South.

The race was expected to be closer than 2004, which it was, as McGuinty faced a tough challenge from Conservative Allan Cutler.

Running for the NDP was the Lebanese-born economist Henri Sader who faced a difficult challenge holding on to the votes that Monia Mazigh won in the previous election.

The Marijuana Party planned to run Tim Meehan, but he did not gain ballot access.

Barry Turner was acclaimed for the nomination when Allan Riddell, the party's candidate in 2004, withdrew because of allegations about a prank in which he was involved in university.

McGuinty faced a steep challenge from Alan Riddell, another lawyer, and Monia Mazigh, the NDP candidate.

Riddell, the Conservative candidate, had suffered bad press when it was discovered he had been driving with a suspended license.

Mazigh, who lived in Nepean, was another high-profile candidate, being the wife of Maher Arar, who was wrongly accused of terrorism.

Many attribute Manley's victory to attracting business to Ottawa's high tech sector.

Joe Anton, the Progressive Conservative candidate, an auditor for Revenue Canada defeated the former mayor of Kanata for the Tory nomination.