First-time Ottawa city councillor Tobi Nussbaum's motion to ask Queen's Park to debate corporate and union donations to candidates seeking municipal office in Ottawa failed Wednesday.

The motion was defeated 19-5. Only Nussbaum, Jeff Leiper, Michael Qaqish, Catherine McKenney and David Chernushenko voted in favour.

Nussbaum refused to accept corporate and union donations during last year's campaign and promised voters in Rideau-Rockcliffe he'd raise the issue if elected.

But many of Nussbaum's colleagues accepted such contributions during the recent election campaign and had said they didn't support a ban.

Nussbaum pointed to a similar ban in Toronto enacted in 2009, and argued there was no reason why Ottawa shouldn't follow that example.

Under provincial law, individuals who reside in Ontario, corporations that carry out business in Ontario, and trade unions that hold bargaining rights in Ontario may each donate a maximum of $750 to any candidate running for municipal office.