Meseret Haileyesus Endorses Rawlson King for Re-Election to Ottawa City Council

OTTAWA, ON — Meseret Haileyesus, Founder and Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Women's Empowerment (CCFWE) and President of AI Nexus for Black Innovators, one of Ottawa's most recognized voices for economic justice, is proud to announce her endorsement of Councillor Rawlson King for re-election to Ottawa City Council representing Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward 13.

"Rawlson King has been a consistent and courageous voice for equity, inclusion, and meaningful community investment right here in Ottawa. As someone who has spent my career working to remove systemic barriers facing women, newcomers, and marginalized communities, I know how rare it is to find an elected official who genuinely listens, acts, and leads with integrity. Rawlson does all of that, and our ward and our city are better for it."

— Meseret Haileyesus

Meseret works at the intersection of violence, financial equity, legislative change, regulation, and consumer protection, advancing financial inclusion through policy influence. She was the first Canadian to champion national economic harm policy reforms in Parliament and has worked to ensure that economic harm is recognized in Canada's National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and at the United Nations. She also serves on the Governance Committee for the City of Ottawa's Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, addressing poverty, systemic racism, and mental health. She is an advocate for Black youth court navigation, working to improve access to justice and help young people and their families better understand and navigate the court system.

Meseret has been repeatedly invited to testify before the Canadian Parliament, the Senate, the World Bank, the European Union, and the Ontario Legislative Assembly. Her advocacy has contributed to legislative dialogue surrounding Bill 41: Protection from Coerced Debts Incurred through Human Trafficking Act (2023), Canadian Senate Bill S-206 on Guaranteed Livable Basic Income, and Bill C-223, the Keeping Children Safe Act.

In 2025, she was invited by the Minister of Finance to deliver keynote remarks in Parliament on the announcement of Canada's first national Code of Conduct addressing economic abuse and anti-fraud agencies. She currently serves on several global, national, and provincial policy and advisory boards, including the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario.

Haileyesus cited King's record on anti-racism, affordable housing, and community safety as central reasons for her support.

Rawlson King is Ottawa's first Black City Councillor, representing Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward. First elected in a historic by-election in April 2019 and re-elected in October 2022, he currently serves as Chair of the Built Heritage Committee and as Council Liaison for Anti-Racism and Ethnocultural Relations Initiatives. He was responsible for the creation of the City's Anti-Racism Secretariat in 2020 and continues to lead the implementation of the City's Anti-Racism Strategy.

"The work Rawlson has done to establish Ottawa's Anti-Racism Secretariat, to secure affordable housing investments, and to champion a more inclusive city speaks directly to the values that drive my own advocacy. Women, newcomers, and Black Canadians deserve representation that reflects their lives and their aspirations. Rawlson King provides that representation."

— Meseret Haileyesus

King expressed his gratitude for the endorsement.

"Meseret Haileyesus is one of the most dedicated and consequential advocates this city has produced. Her work to advance economic justice and protect vulnerable women has made Ottawa a more equitable place to live. I am deeply honoured by her support and I will continue to fight every day for the safe, inclusive, and thriving community that every resident of Rideau-Rockcliffe deserves."

— Rawlson King, City Councillor, Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward

Meseret Haileyesus urges residents of Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward 13 and all Ottawans who care about equity, economic justice, and strong representative governance to support Rawlson King in the upcoming municipal election.