| Bio | Alex Lawson, 38, grew up in Heron Gate and now lives in Dunrobin with his wife and three daughters. After school he went into framing houses; eighteen years later he runs Capital Framing, a construction management company that builds more than 140 homes a year and employs over 17 people. His campaign slogan is 'A city that works for the people who live here.' | No bio on record. Know something? | No bio on record. Know something? | No bio on record. Know something? | No bio on record. Know something? | No bio on record. Know something? | Jeff Leiper is running for Mayor of Ottawa on a platform of building 'a city that works': a transit system you can count on, a city you can afford to live in, neighbourhoods where people feel safe, and a City Hall that is open and honest about what it is doing. He has served as Kitchissippi Ward councillor since 2014 and chairs the planning and housing committee. | No bio on record. Know something? | Mark Sutcliffe was elected Mayor of Ottawa in 2022 after, in his campaign's words, 'a long campaign with 13 other candidates' and 'a strong mandate to bring change to City Hall.' He is running for re-election in 2026 on a platform of keeping taxes low, building 10,000 affordable homes this decade, and a $95 monthly transit pass. | Neil Saravanamuttoo is an economist and first-time candidate raised in Ottawa's west end. He studied economics at Carleton University and the London School of Economics, spent nearly two decades at Canada's Department of Finance, and served as chief economist at the G20-backed Global Infrastructure Hub. He co-founded the non-profit CitySHAPES and was a champion leader against the $418.8M Lansdowne 2.0 project. He and his wife Kimberley have two daughters. | No bio on record. Know something? | No bio on record. Know something? | Suraj Harish, P.Eng., is a civil engineer and former City of Ottawa senior project manager with more than three decades of experience delivering roadway, transitway, watermain, stormwater and community infrastructure projects across Ottawa. He previously worked for the former Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. His campaign slogan is 'A former city employee is back to serve the community.' | No bio on record. Know something? |
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| HousingWill I be able to afford to live here? | Lawson would repeal the vacant unit tax on day one and cut development charges by half to get more homes built. - Would repeal the vacant unit tax at the first council meeting; argues three years of city data show it did not cut rents ($291/month average two-bedroom rise) while burdening seniors, estates and renovators
- Would cut development charges in half to spur construction, arguing builders respond to fees and that lost revenue is offset by growth
- Five first-year actions for family-sized rentals and stopping the slide into homelessness (platform plan 01)
Show their words & sourceHide (several paragraphs)“In 2023, Sutcliffe seconded the motion to keep this tax. In 2024, the City made it harsher, raising the top rate to five percent. He measured the revenue. Alex measures the result.” Source: End the Vacant Unit Tax · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High | This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Produce housing Ottawa residents can actually afford, not just use 'affordable' as a slogan - Work with developers so significant new residential developments incorporate affordable units where feasible
- Protect existing affordable housing and tenants; identify publicly owned land for affordable and mixed-income housing
“We need to stop treating the word 'affordable' as a slogan and start producing housing that Ottawa residents can actually afford.” (several paragraphs) Source: Housing platforms of municipal candidates a key consideration in this fall's election Confidence:High Expand affordable housing options and find efficiencies before asking residents to pay more - Affordability is one of the biggest challenges: housing, transportation, taxes pressuring working families
- Focus City spending on essential services, improve transit, expand affordable housing options
“I would focus City spending on essential services, improve transit, expand affordable housing options and find efficiencies before asking residents to pay more.” (a few sentences) Source: Ottawa mayoral candidate Ali Shayvard answers our election questions · October 2, 2026 Confidence:High Shayvard calls housing affordability one of Ottawa's biggest challenges and says the City must take a much stronger role. - Housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing Ottawa
- The City needs to take a much stronger role
- From the Strong Towns Ottawa questionnaire (responses shown unedited as submitted; no individual submission dates) — in-window discovery via live browser; not previously extracted
“Housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing Ottawa, and I believe the City needs to take a much stronger role.” (one sentence) Source: Strong Towns Ottawa 2026 Ottawa Municipal Election Questionnaire — Ali Shayvard (Ottawa mayor) · October 21, 2026 Confidence:High Shayvard wants a meaningful share of homes in large new developments to be genuinely affordable housing. - When large apartment buildings and major residential developments are approved, a meaningful portion of those homes should be genuinely affordable housing
- From the Strong Towns Ottawa questionnaire (responses shown unedited as submitted; no individual submission dates) — in-window discovery via live browser; not previously extracted
“When large apartment buildings and major residential developments are approved, I want to ensure that a meaningful portion of those homes are genuinely affordable housing.” (one sentence) Source: Strong Towns Ottawa 2026 Ottawa Municipal Election Questionnaire — Ali Shayvard (Ottawa mayor) · October 21, 2026 Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong? | City-built homes at a proposed $250,000 price on City-owned land, sold by draw - City-built homes at a proposed $250,000 price
- Use City-owned land, build without a profit margin, sell to Ottawa families through a draw
Show their words & sourceHide (a few sentences)“Use City-owned land, build without a profit margin, and give Ottawa families the opportunity to buy through a draw.” Source: Amjad Syed for Mayor Confidence:High | | | | Leiper targets 1,500 non-profit homes a year and an acquisition fund with the Ottawa Community Land Trust. - Commits to a target of 1,500 new non-profit homes per year, requiring federal, provincial and municipal cooperation
- Commits to partnering with non-profits and the Ottawa Community Land Trust on an acquisition fund to preserve affordable rental housing and prevent demovictions
- Development charge relief should not apply to market units; property tax exemptions reserved for housing meeting a strict affordability definition or non-profit ownership
- Pushes for a fairer federal partnership: a 50/50 cost split with the federal government 'is not fair' given city pressure on transit and infrastructure
Show their words & sourceHide (several paragraphs)“Campaign Commitment: Partner with non-profits and the Ottawa Community Land Trust to build an acquisition fund that preserves affordable rental housing and prevents demovictions.” Source: Housing That Works (campaign Substack) · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High | | Sutcliffe targets 10,000 affordable homes by 2030, backed by a $400M federal deal and his Housing Action Plan's red-tape cuts. - Would 'secure the funding necessary' to build 10,000 affordable, supportive and transitional housing units by 2030 (measured against 2020 levels)
- Cites a $400 million deal with the federal government to build 3,000 new affordable and mixed-income homes, including supportive units
- Points to a Housing Action Plan that cut 13 housing studies, reduced municipal fees on new homes, and led to a 38% rise in 2025 housing starts
- Separately pledged 650 more supportive housing units in an Ottawa Citizen op-ed (reported Oct 2026)
Show their words & sourceHide (several paragraphs)“I will secure the funding necessary to build a total of 10,000 affordable, supportive, and transitional housing units in Ottawa by 2030, when compared to 2020 levels.” Source: A vision for Ottawa (My plan for...) · October 15, 2026 Confidence:High | Saravanamuttoo would scale up a public homebuilder to add 25,000-30,000 affordable units and double non-market housing to 10%. - Would scale up a public homebuilder to build 25,000-30,000 new affordable units and double Ottawa's share of non-market housing from 5% to 10%
- Points to Paris and Vienna, where roughly a quarter of the population lives in city-owned housing, as the scale Ottawa should aim for
- Argues Ottawa should build in existing neighbourhoods rather than continue expanding the suburban footprint
Show their words & sourceHide (reported remarks)“In Paris and Vienna, roughly one-quarter of the population lives in city-owned housing, often for their entire lives.” Source: Saravanamuttoo Talks Defence, Tech and Housing in Ottawa Bid · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High | | | | |
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| Taxes & spendingWhat happens to my tax bill, and where does the money go? | Lawson's Back to Basics Budget promises a 0% tax year in 2027 then 1/2/2, funded by named savings on consultants. - Zero per cent property tax increase in 2027, then 1%, 2% and 2% — a 5% four-year total vs 10% under Sutcliffe's cap and ~16% under Leiper, by his math
- Claims $77M-$148M in potential annual savings from 'six leaks': hiring discipline (not refilling 1 in 4 office departures), cutting consultant spend (~$95M/yr on road/sewer/inspection engineering), overtime, year-end spending
- Pledges no bus routes cut, no reserves drained, no fee hikes, and no new spending without a named saving; a public savings ledger with every budget
- Says the average urban home (2026 tax $4,590) would save about $760 over four years vs Sutcliffe's plan
Show their words & sourceHide (several paragraphs)“I build houses for a living. Every job starts with a number, and the number has to be right.” Source: Back to Basics Budget · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High | | | | | | Leiper proposes a 1% infrastructure levy (~$28/year per household) to close the infrastructure repair gap. - Would impose a 1% infrastructure levy to fund repairs on aging roads, sewers and other city assets, estimated at about $28 per year for the average homeowner
- Levy would sit on top of whatever property tax rate council passes; he rejects claims he would raise taxes 7-9%
- Has cited a $10.8B infrastructure funding gap, arguing avoidance of tax increases worsens the gap and leaves the city less leverage with federal/provincial funders
Show their words & sourceHide (reported remarks)“I can assure residents that I'm not looking at tax increases of seven or eight or nine per cent.” Source: Jeff Leiper Pitches 1% Property Tax Levy for Ottawa Infrastructure · September 17, 2026 Confidence:High | Residents should know what their tax dollars are spent on and be involved in decisions - Residents should know what their tax dollars are being spent on
- Residents should be involved in the decision-making
Show their words & sourceHide (a few sentences)“I don't know if I have the power to find that information at this point, but as a general rule, I believe that residents should know what their tax dollars are being spent on, and should be involved in the decision-making.” Source: Ottawa 2026 — candidate register · September 25, 2026 Confidence:High | This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Sutcliffe pledges a 2-2.5% property tax cap for the first two years, $250M more in savings via a hiring freeze and program review. - Renews his promise to keep taxes as low as possible, with a tax limit of 2-2.5% for the first two years of the term
- Pledges to find another $250 million in savings and efficiencies over four years, on top of $252 million he says was found in his first term
- Savings measures: maintain a hiring freeze for non-frontline, non-priority positions for at least two years; freeze general operating spending so it only grows with assessment; expanded program review with City staff and independent third-party experts; peer benchmarking against other municipalities
- Pledges a multi-year budget for predictability and to continue securing provincial/federal investment to reduce pressure on local taxpayers
“I will renew my promise and keep taxes as low as possible, including a tax limit of 2-2.5% for the first two years.” (several paragraphs) Source: A vision for Ottawa (My plan for...) · October 15, 2026 Confidence:High Sutcliffe pledges to keep tax increases at 2-2.5% for two years while investing in infrastructure, transit and public safety. - Sutcliffe repeats his pledge to hold tax increases to 2-2.5% for the first two years.
- Pairs low increases with a disciplined approach to public finances.
- Says this leaves room to invest in infrastructure, transit, public safety and homelessness.
“I will keep tax increases to 2-2.5% for the next two years. With low tax increases and a disciplined approach to public finances, we can advance important investments into priorities such as infrastructure, transit, public safety, and addressing homelessness while ensuring that life remains affordable for families.” (a few sentences) Source: Ottawa Mayoral Candidate Survey Results 2026 (OREB) · October 14, 2026 Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong? | Saravanamuttoo promises 100 days of open books and an independent financial responsibility office before locking in any tax target. - Promises '100 days of open books' to show residents how the city spends money, and a 'fiscal strategy' reviewing city spending within his first 100 days
- Has not committed to a property tax target until he conducts a comprehensive spending review and eliminates city programs that don't work (CTV, Sept 2026)
- Proposes an independent Office for Financial Responsibility to hunt for municipal efficiencies
Show their words & sourceHide (reported remarks)“He also unveiled a fiscal strategy last week, promising to 'open the books' at city hall and take a closer look at Ottawa's spending within his first 100 days in office if elected.” Source: What You May Have Missed in Ottawa's Mayoral Race Last Week · September 21, 2026 Confidence:High | | | Harish promises a four-year freeze on Ottawa property taxes. - Would implement a four-year freeze on property taxes if elected, committing to find responsible solutions to protect residents from rising costs
Show their words & sourceHide (one sentence)“If elected, I will implement a four-year freeze on property taxes.” Source: Home (campaign platform) · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High | |
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| Emergency servicesWhen I call for help, will it come fast enough? | Lawson would raise the minimum patrol-car level from 42 to 64 tied to population, with the extra policing cost billed to senior governments. - Would raise Ottawa's minimum number of patrol cars from 42 (a standard set in 1995 for a city of 721,000) to 64, tied to population
- Would guarantee coverage for every zone of the city
- Would send the capital's policing bill to the senior governments that should pay it, without adding to the police levy
Show their words & sourceHide (a few sentences)“Ottawa still runs on a minimum of 42 patrol cars, set in 1995 for a city of 721,000. Raise it to 64 and tie it to population, guarantee coverage for every zone of the city, and send the capital's policing bill to the governments that should pay it, without adding to the police levy.” Source: The Lawson Platform: Every Plan, Published in Full · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High | | | | | | | | Sutcliffe pledges 350 more first responders, a public safety dashboard, and a Downtown Safety Plan. - Would hire 350 more first responders: 200 more police officers (with body cameras), 100 more paramedics and 50 more firefighters
- Would create a public dashboard reporting key public safety performance indicators
- Would fully implement the district policing model and work with the province on municipal ambulance offload centres to cut ER wait times
- Would advance a Downtown Safety Plan, supported by more policing, alternative response and new response teams, including activating the Emergency Coordination Centre
Show their words & sourceHide (several paragraphs)“Hire 350 more police officers, firefighters, and paramedics — Hire 200 more police officers, equip the police service with body cameras, and ensure safety in communities across Ottawa.” Source: Making Ottawa safer, together · October 15, 2026 Confidence:High | | | | | |
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| TransitCan I get where I need to go without driving? | Lawson would restore rush-hour BRT until the LRT meets its reliability standard, redesign routes around trip times. - Twelve commitments on transit management; argues the system is 'short on management,' not money
- Would bring back rush-hour bus rapid transit until the LRT meets the operating reliability standard it was supposed to clear before launch
- Would make trip times the primary metric for designing routes, require realistic bus schedules, move school trips back to OSTA yellow buses, and replace double-decker buses with articulated 60-footers
- Promises public reporting against every metric
Show their words & sourceHide (several paragraphs)“Ottawa's transit system is not short on money. It is short on management.” Source: The Lawson Platform: Every Plan, Published in Full (plan 02) · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High | Cut regular adult monthly OC Transpo pass to $90 and freeze it for four years - First priority for OC Transpo would be reliability: realistic schedules, proper maintenance, adequate staffing
- Reduce regular adult monthly pass to $90 and keep it there for four years
Show their words & sourceHide (a few sentences)“As part of making transit more affordable, I would also work to reduce the regular adult monthly pass to $90 and keep it there for four years.” Source: Ottawa mayoral candidate Ali Shayvard answers our election questions · October 2, 2026 Confidence:High | | | | This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Mayoral candidate Jacob Solomon would decriminalize bus fare-hopping. - Decriminalize hopping the bus
“DECRIMINALIZE HOPPING THE BUS” (one sentence) Source: Jacob Solomon 2026 mayoral campaign site Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong? | Leiper would reverse the 2024 bus service cuts, expand dedicated bus lanes. - Would reverse service cuts made under the 2024 'New Ways to Bus' plan (roughly 70,000 hours of service, ~$10M in savings), prioritizing funding toward core routes
- Would expand dedicated bus lanes and transit-priority measures to improve reliability and reduce congestion
- Proposes a Transit Service Guarantee: published on-time performance and frequency standards with regular public reporting on results
- Would restore a citizen seat on the Transit Commission and open bus routes to rider accountability; frames transit reliability as an affordability issue
Show their words & sourceHide (reported remarks)“Sutcliffe has taken us in a direction on public transit that's less convenient, it's less reliable. As a result, fewer people are taking transit and our roads are more congested.” Source: Jeff Leiper is ready to get the city 'back on track,' starting with transit (iPolitics / Ottawa Compass) · September 1, 2026 Confidence:High | Add GPS trackers on buses, phone charge ports, and better scooter infrastructure - GPS trackers so riders see where the bus is right now, like Uber
- Phone charge ports on buses and trains; better infrastructure for scooters
Show their words & sourceHide (reported remarks)“I don't know why we don't have GPS trackers, so you can actually see where the bus is, just like you can see where your Uber is. I don't want to know when it's scheduled to come, I want to know where it is right now.” Source: Mayoral candidates push for affordable transit and more trees at forum · October 9, 2026 Confidence:High | Sutcliffe would cut the monthly OC Transpo pass to $95 and leans on the $4B provincial LRT upload to strengthen transit. - Would cut the monthly transit pass from $138.50 to $95, which he calls the lowest price of any major city in Canada, saving regular riders over $500 a year
- Points to a $4 billion deal with the province to 'upload' the LRT as the single largest transit infrastructure investment in Ottawa's history
- Cites the purchase of 500 new buses (mostly zero-emission) and a ~30% increase in transit investment over four years
Show their words & sourceHide (several paragraphs)“I will dramatically lower the price of a monthly transit pass from $138.50 to $95 in order to make life more affordable for residents and welcome riders back to transit.” Source: A vision for Ottawa (My plan for...) · October 15, 2026 Confidence:High | This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Saravanamuttoo pitches a $1 fare with a $40 monthly cap, calling Ottawa's LRT 'basically operating with a chronic illness.' - At the Oct 15 mayoral debate (reported by ottown Oct 23), Saravanamuttoo proposed $1 conventional transit trips capped at $40 a month.
- His fare plan depends on savings if the province takes over Ottawa's LRT infrastructure — a decision a future council could not make alone.
- His existing transit row (baseline, candidate_website Oct 17) is a different statement — ridership recovery, not the $1-fare plan.
- Sutcliffe's $95-pass pledge, Leiper's 70,000-hour bus-service restore, and Lawson's reliability pitch in the same piece are paraphrase only — not proposed.
“We have an LRT that's basically operating with a chronic illness,” (reported remarks) Source: Where Ottawa's Mayoral Candidates Stand on Transit and the LRT (ottown; via Ottawa Life Magazine / Kitchissippi Times) · October 23, 2026 Confidence:High Saravanamuttoo's 'Buck a ride' would cut fares to $1 (capped at $40/month) at no new tax cost. - 'Buck a ride': a $1 transit fare citywide, capped at $40 a month, 'at no new cost to taxpayers'; forecasts up to 47% ridership growth
- Funds the estimated $82.2M/year cost from the province's planned LRT upload savings, operational savings, and revenue from a future real estate transit development agency
- Four-point plan: (1) Buck a ride, (2) 'truth in transit' — honesty about the LRT's state and fixed real-time GPS data, (3) a proper bus-network redesign with riders and operators, (4) a transit development agency monetizing land around stations
“Fixing OC Transpo requires we find a way to get ridership back up. In the near term, that means pulling the one lever we can control: affordability.” (several paragraphs) Source: 4-Point Transit Recovery Plan · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong? | This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Offer one free week of transit on all buses and LRT, then analyze the results - Does not agree with lowering fares or bus passes
- Pick a busy week, offer seven days free transit, then investigate the numbers and ridership attracted
“I'd pick a busy week and offer seven days free transit on all bus, (and) LRT, and then investigate the numbers, figure out how much that would attract,” (reported remarks) Source: Mayoral candidates push for affordable transit and more trees at forum · October 9, 2026 Confidence:High Focus on buses over light rail; increase bicycle infrastructure affordably and sensibly - Ranked buses and Bus Rapid Transit above rail for additional public investment
- Increase bicycle infrastructure but affordably and sensibly
“We must focus on buses over light rail. Increase bicycle infrastructure but affordably and sensibly.” (a few sentences) Source: FCA 2026 Mayoral Candidate Survey Report Confidence:High Westaway would focus on improving Ottawa's bus system, recalling when it was celebrated as North America's best. - Would focus more on improving the bus system
- Notes Ottawa was once celebrated as having the number one bus system in all of North America
- From the Strong Towns Ottawa questionnaire (responses shown unedited as submitted; no individual submission dates) — in-window discovery via live browser; not previously extracted
“I would focus more on improving our bus system. We were once not long ago celebrated as having the number one bus system in all of North America.” (one sentence) Source: Strong Towns Ottawa 2026 Ottawa Municipal Election Questionnaire — Peter Westaway (Ottawa mayor) · October 21, 2026 Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong? | | Harish would increase BRT funding and make it reliable and affordable for public servants and students who rely on it. - Harish's first-term priority is more funding for bus rapid transit (BRT).
- Aims to make BRT reliable and affordable.
- Targets two groups: public servants and students who rely on the BRT service.
Show their words & sourceHide (one sentence)“Increase the funding for BRT and make it reliable and affordable for public servants and for students who completely relie on BRT service.” Source: Ottawa Mayoral Candidate Survey Results 2026 (OREB) · October 14, 2026 Confidence:High | Opposes uploading LRT to Metrolinx; two governing bodies would make management worse - Adamant the city not upload the LRT to Metrolinx
- Solution to improve OC Transpo is to replace senior management with senior bus drivers
Show their words & sourceHide (reported remarks)“Can you imagine if we can have two authorities running the system? Give me a break. It doesn't work,” Source: Mayoral candidates push for affordable transit and more trees at forum · October 9, 2026 Confidence:High |
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| GovernmentWill decisions be made in the open, and will anyone answer for them? | Lawson would bar campaign insiders from lobbying for four years and publish every city contract in a live searchable plain-language list. - Would impose a four-year bar on campaign insiders lobbying the officials they helped elect — 'no new cost, no new department'
- Would put every city contract in a live, searchable, plain-language list with no minimum dollar amount, updated as work is awarded
Show their words & sourceHide (a few sentences)“Every city contract in a live, searchable, plain-language list, no minimum dollar amount, updated as work is awarded.” Source: The Lawson Platform: Every Plan, Published in Full (plans 03, 04) · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High | Bring City flag rules before Council for discussion and a recorded vote - Would bring the City's flag rules before Council for discussion and a recorded vote
- No problem displaying different flags as long as not hateful, discriminatory or inappropriate; rules must be clear, fair, consistently applied
Show their words & sourceHide (a few sentences)“Yes, I would have no problem bringing the City's flag rules before Council for discussion and a recorded vote. Personally, I do not see anything wrong with displaying different flags, as long as they are not hateful, discriminatory, or otherwise inappropriate.” Source: Ottawa 2026 — candidate register · October 1, 2026 Confidence:High | | | | | This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Leiper would overturn the city staff five-day return-to-office mandate, push back on the federal four-day rule. - Would reverse the blanket five-day return-to-office mandate for Ottawa city staff, allowing flexible work where possible without compromising public services
- Would call on the federal government to reverse its four-day in-office mandate and base workplace decisions on operational needs
- Would work with the federal government to expand shared workplaces in Kanata, Orleans, Barrhaven and the south end, bringing offices closer to where employees live
- Would require the City to assess transportation, financial and environmental consequences before major workplace-policy changes
“Sutcliffe's back-to-office orders are costing people time and money. Higher child care, gas, transit, parking and coffee costs hurt people.” (several paragraphs) Source: Leiper Commits to Overturn Return-to-Office Mandates · August 24, 2026 Confidence:High Leiper says Ottawa hasn't listened enough on downtown revitalization; his first step would be reporting back stakeholder views. - Before committing further to a downtown revitalization plan, the city must properly hear stakeholders
- His first step would be reporting back what stakeholders actually said, rather than pushing ahead with a plan built without that input
“I'm not sure that we have done enough real listening at this point” (reported remarks) Source: ottown: 'Jeff Leiper Talks Housing, ByWard Market and Arts Funding' (sourced to Ottawa Business Journal) · October 11, 2026 Confidence:High Leiper refuses all developer donations and pledges not to use strong-mayor powers. - Has pledged not to take a single donation from developers, 'so there is no question about whose interests come first'
- Has pledged not to use the 'strong mayor' powers under the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act
“It also means I will not take a single donation from developers, so there is no question about whose interests come first.” (a few sentences) Source: Ottawa, are you in? (campaign Substack) · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong? | Publish meaningful performance indicators, targets and results for public money - Supports publishing meaningful performance indicators, targets and results
- New programs need clear objectives, evaluation plans, and published measured results
Show their words & sourceHide (a few sentences)“I support publishing meaningful performance indicators, targets and results so residents can see whether public money is achieving its goals. New programs would need clear objectives and a plan for evaluation, and a plan to publish measured results once results are available.” Source: Ottawa 2026 — candidate register · September 25, 2026 Confidence:High | | | | | | |
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| Roads & infrastructureWill the things I use every day actually get fixed? | Lawson wants a southern ring road built as a provincial 400-series highway, plus smarter signals and a per-metre, per-day lane-closure fee. - Would pursue a southern ring road as a provincial 400-series highway so 1,000 trucks a day stop rolling through Manotick and the 417 isn't the only way across
- Would bring smarter traffic lights (free app in first 100 days, smart signals on worst corridors) and a lane-closure fee charged by the metre and by the day, like Toronto
Show their words & sourceHide (a few sentences)“A southern ring road as a provincial 400-series highway, so 1,000 trucks a day stop rolling through Manotick and the 417 isn't the only way across.” Source: The Lawson Platform: Every Plan, Published in Full (plans 05, 11) · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High | This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Rebuild City in-house capacity instead of relying on contractors for road and infrastructure work - Ottawa relies too heavily on contractors; repaired roads need rework due to workmanship and materials
- Rebuild in-house capacity, use proper materials, enforce quality standards
“I believe Ottawa relies too heavily on contractors for work that could be done more consistently and accountably in-house. We see roads and infrastructure repaired only to require more work because of workmanship, materials or a lack of long-term accountability. I want to rebuild the City's in-house capacity, use proper materials, enforce stronger quality standards and stop taxpayers from repeatedly paying to fix the same problems.” (a few sentences) Source: Ottawa mayoral candidate Ali Shayvard answers our election questions · October 2, 2026 Confidence:High Shayvard's top priority: restore roads/infrastructure to standard, rebuild in-house capacity, and strengthen accountability. - Shayvard names roads and infrastructure restoration as his first-term top priority.
- Would strengthen in-house City capacity where practical instead of contracting out.
- Promises work done right the first time with stronger accountability for better value.
“My top priority will be restoring Ottawa's roads and infrastructure to proper standards. I will strengthen in-house capacity where practical, ensure work is completed properly the first time, and introduce stronger accountability so residents receive better value, safer roads, and infrastructure built to last.” (a few sentences) Source: Ottawa Mayoral Candidate Survey Results 2026 (OREB) · October 14, 2026 Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong? | | | | | | | | Saravanamuttoo would accelerate replacement of aging sewers, including combined stormwater-sewage systems. - Saravanamuttoo cites the Canada Day flooding as a wake-up call on aging sewer capacity.
- Would move faster to replace aging sewers, including combined stormwater-sewage systems.
- Capital investment redirected to upgrading existing-neighbourhood infrastructure over new developments.
Show their words & sourceHide (a page or more)“To better manage flooding risks, as Mayor I will move faster to replace aging sewers, including systems that combine stormwater and sewage, that failed to manage the heavy rainfall patterns we experienced this summer.” Source: Environmental Protection that Saves You Money (Saravanamuttoo Substack) · October 20, 2026 Confidence:High | | | Harish would prioritize fixing potholes and faded pavement markings across Ottawa's roads. - Would repair Ottawa's deteriorating road surfaces and potholes before they become larger, more dangerous and more expensive to fix
- Would improve the quality and visibility of pavement markings so they stay bright, reflective and visible in all weather
Show their words & sourceHide (a few sentences)“Our roads should be safe, smooth, and properly maintained. Ottawa residents deserve better road infrastructure.” Source: Home (campaign platform) · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High | |
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| EconomyWill our main streets and local jobs thrive? | | | | | | | Leiper would bring a Fair Wage Policy to city construction contracts over $1.5M by end-2027. - Would introduce a Fair Wage Policy for all City of Ottawa construction projects over $1.5M, in force no later than end of 2027
- Would create a City Fair Wage Office, led by a Manager, by end of 2027 to administer and enforce the policy
- Would add Community Employment Benefits Agreements and a Skilled Trades Workforce Development Plan to create apprenticeships, especially for communities facing barriers
- Would seek council support for Ottawa to become a signatory contractor with the 20 affiliated unions of the Building and Construction Trades Council
Show their words & sourceHide (several paragraphs)“Providing good-paying jobs for local people is an investment in Ottawa's future. The City should ensure its construction spending supports fair wages, skilled workers, and a strong local construction industry.” Source: Jeff Leiper Commits to a Fair Wage Policy for City Construction Projects · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High | | Sutcliffe's downtown plan covers the ByWard Market Action Plan, 40,000 new downtown residents and 50,000 jobs. - Would complete the ByWard Market Action Plan (renovate major properties, new attractions) ahead of the Market's 200th anniversary
- Would continue the downtown revitalization plan aimed at bringing 40,000 new residents, 50,000 jobs and hundreds of new businesses downtown
- Would fully implement the Defence Innovation Strategy (citing a $90M Defence Aerospace hangar investment at the airport), host a 2027 Ottawa-Gatineau investment summit, and pursue a 'free trade' special economic zone with Gatineau
- Would address vacant storefronts with a pop-up/short-term-lease matchmaking program, storefront improvement grants, public art on vacant storefronts, and fast-tracked approvals for conversions
Show their words & sourceHide (several paragraphs)“Ottawa's economy depends on a strong and vibrant downtown. I will continue to implement the downtown revitalization plan to support bringing 40,000 new residents, 50,000 new jobs, and hundreds of new businesses to downtown Ottawa.” Source: A vision for Ottawa (My plan for...) · October 15, 2026 Confidence:High | | | | | |
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| EnvironmentIs the candidate protecting the nature we live in? | | | | | | | | | | This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Saravanamuttoo would run neighbourhood-scale home retrofits folding in federal heat pump rebates up to $10,000. - Saravanamuttoo would launch neighbourhood-scale home retrofit teams modelled on European programs.
- Federal heat pump rebates (up to $10,000 below median income, $2,000 others) folded into the approach.
- City project team would help residents apply and bundle rebates into retrofit financing, plus bulk purchasing and pre-arranged financing.
“I will make the new federal heat pump rebates—up to $10,000 for eligible households below the median income and $2,000 for others—part of this neighbourhood approach, with the City's project team helping residents apply and incorporate the rebates into their retrofit financing.” (a page or more) Source: Environmental Protection that Saves You Money (Saravanamuttoo Substack) · October 20, 2026 Confidence:High Saravanamuttoo would reduce unnecessary road salt use while keeping streets and sidewalks safe. - Saravanamuttoo pledges to cut unnecessary winter road salt use.
- Streets and sidewalks would stay safe via better application tech, timely clearing and waterway protection.
- Salt reduction also saves taxpayers money by limiting corrosion damage to bridges and City vehicles.
“As Mayor, I will reduce unnecessary road salt use while keeping Ottawa’s streets and sidewalks safe.” (a page or more) Source: Environmental Protection that Saves You Money (Saravanamuttoo Substack) · October 20, 2026 Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong? | | | | |
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| HealthcareWill there be a doctor and a hospital when we need one? | | | | | | | Pledges a new Kanata recreation centre with dedicated health-hub space; finding a family doctor shouldn't feel like winning a lottery. - Kanata is growing, but its infrastructure isn't keeping up.
- As mayor, he would build the new recreation centre and include dedicated space for a health hub, so families get healthcare closer to home.
Show their words & sourceHide (reported remarks)“In Ottawa, finding a family doctor shouldn't feel like winning a lottery. Families in Kanata deserve access to the recreation facilities their growing communities need and healthcare services closer to home. As mayor, I'll build a new recreation centre for Kanata families, and include dedicated space for a health hub.” Source: CTV News Ottawa — What Ottawa’s leading mayoral candidates pledged today · October 13, 2026 Confidence:High | | | | | | | |
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| Growth & developmentHow fast should we grow, and who decides what gets built where? | | | | | | | | | | Saravanamuttoo led the fight against the $418.8M Lansdowne 2.0 project, calling it a terrible use of public money. - Has called the $418.8 million Lansdowne 2.0 project a 'terrible use of public money'
- Was a champion leader against Lansdowne 2.0, arguing the half-billion dollars should go to community projects instead
- His platform includes an 'Accountability on Lansdowne' plank
Show their words & sourceHide (reported remarks)“Saravanamuttoo has called the $418.8 million Lansdowne 2.0 project a 'terrible use of public money.'” Source: Who Is Neil Saravanamuttoo? The Finance Veteran Running for Ottawa Mayor · October 16, 2026 Confidence:High | Completely change the Ottawa Greenbelt, modeled after the Ontario Greenbelt, as main priority - Single-issue focus on reforming the Ottawa Greenbelt
- Would change the entire geographical makeup of the city with a proper large greenbelt modeled after the Ontario Greenbelt
Show their words & sourceHide (a few sentences)“My proposal to completely change our pathetic greenbelt will continue to be my main priority. That would change the entire geographical makeup of our city along with creating a proper large greenbelt modeled after the Ontario Greenbelt.” Source: FCA 2026 Mayoral Candidate Survey Report Confidence:High | | | |
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| Social & community servicesWho looks after the most vulnerable residents? | Lawson would build a 200-bed Greenbelt recovery campus with same-day detox-to-treatment, trades training. - Would build HopeWorks, a 200-bed recovery campus on leased Greenbelt land (with the NCC) in two phases of 100 beds; residents stay up to ten months, train in food/agriculture, building maintenance or construction trades, and leave with a job, a place to live and a year of aftercare
- Detox on request with same-day transfer to treatment; would press Ontario to put real withdrawal-management beds behind the HART hubs' promises
- Would make long-acting monthly buprenorphine (Sublocade) the standard offer after detox, available in clinics, pharmacies and family practices citywide
- Treatment paid for by the province and free to residents; city covers fast-tracked approvals, transit access and results-based funding of addiction contracts — 'No new property tax'
Show their words & sourceHide (a page or more)“Detox when someone asks for it, treatment the same day, up to ten months at a 200-bed Greenbelt recovery campus learning a trade, and a job and a home at the end. Treatment paid for by the province, free to residents.” Source: Recovery First Ottawa · October 17, 2026 Confidence:High | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Active transportationCan I walk and bike safely around town? | | | | | | Mayoral candidate Jacob Solomon's platform includes improving bike paths. Show their words & sourceHide (one sentence)“IMPROVE BIKE PATHS” Source: Jacob Solomon 2026 mayoral campaign site Confidence:High | | | | | | | | |
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| Arts & cultureDoes the candidate value what makes this place feel alive? | | | | | | Mayoral candidate Jacob Solomon's platform includes pianos in public spaces. - Pianos in public
- More murals
Show their words & sourceHide (one sentence)“PIANOS IN PUBLIC” Source: Jacob Solomon 2026 mayoral campaign site Confidence:High | Leiper would move a portion of arts and culture funding into the city's economic development branch. - A portion of arts and culture funding would move into the city's economic development branch
- No amount specified in the material reviewed
Show their words & sourceHide (reported remarks)“we need to move a portion of arts and culture funding into our economic development branch.” Source: ottown: 'Ottawa Mayoral Race: Leiper and Lawson Lay Out Priorities' (sourced to Ottawa Business Journal) · October 18, 2026 Confidence:High | | | | | | | |
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| Data centresShould energy-hungry data centres be welcomed here? | | | | | | | | | | Saravanamuttoo would impose a moratorium on new data centres until each one bears its full infrastructure cost. - Saravanamuttoo says AI-driven data-centre demand raises energy and water costs for nearby homes and businesses.
- Residents should not pay for new generating capacity or risk higher water bills.
- Would freeze new data centres until long-term impacts are understood and each bears its full cost.
Show their words & sourceHide (a page or more)“Until we have a clear understanding of the long-term impacts on our electricity system and water infrastructure, and solutions to ensure that each data centre bears its full cost, I will place a moratorium on new data centres.” Source: Environmental Protection that Saves You Money (Saravanamuttoo Substack) · October 20, 2026 Confidence:High | | | | |
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| Water & wasteIs our drinking water safe and our waste handled? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Bylaw enforcementAre the rules fair, and are they actually enforced? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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