[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":271},["ShallowReactive",2],{"article-\u002Fnews\u002Flawson-small-business-taxes-2026-10-07":3,"news-list":144,"article-people-\u002Fnews\u002Flawson-small-business-taxes-2026-10-07":259},{"id":4,"title":5,"aiMetadata":6,"author":20,"body":21,"candidates":77,"category":79,"date":80,"description":81,"extension":82,"faq":83,"image":108,"imageAlt":109,"imageCheckedAt":110,"imageCredit":111,"linkedin":112,"linkedinPostUrl":120,"meta":121,"metaDescription":120,"navigation":123,"path":124,"primarySourceUrl":125,"publishedAt":110,"seo":126,"seoTitle":120,"sourceId":127,"sourceIsPaywalled":128,"sources":129,"stem":135,"storyType":136,"tags":137,"topicKey":142,"updated":120,"__hash__":143},"news\u002Fnews\u002Flawson-small-business-taxes-2026-10-07.md","Alex Lawson pledges to raise small business tax cut to 25 per cent",{"summary":7,"keyTopics":8,"semanticKeywords":14},"Ottawa mayoral candidate Alex Lawson announced a small business plan on October 7, 2026, including raising the city's property tax discount for small businesses from 15 per cent to 25 per cent, scrapping patio fees, and creating a public red tape tracker.",[9,10,11,12,13],"small business taxes","mayoral platform","Alex Lawson","Ottawa election 2026","property tax",[15,16,17,18,19],"small business property tax discount","patio fees","red tape portal","Ottawa mayor race","business support","voche.me editors",{"type":22,"value":23,"toc":71},"minimark",[24,28,31,36,39,42,45,48,52,55,58],[25,26,27],"p",{},"Mayoral candidate Alex Lawson announced a small business plan on October 7, 2026, including a pledge to raise the city's property tax discount for small businesses from 15 per cent to 25 per cent, at a cost he puts at $8.4 million a year, CTV News reported.",[25,29,30],{},"The City of Ottawa introduced the small business property tax discount in 2022. CTV News reported that it provides a 15 per cent reduction phased in over two years. Lawson says it reached 15 per cent by 2023 and was then frozen. \"Business pays almost a quarter of Ottawa's property tax. Over the last two years it brought in about four cents of every new tax dollar. When the base doesn't grow, the rate goes up on everyone,\" Lawson said in his platform, as reported by CTV News.",[32,33,35],"h2",{"id":34},"what-the-plan-includes","What the plan includes",[25,37,38],{},"Lawson says he would raise the small business property tax discount from 15 per cent to 25 per cent with no phase-in, in his first budget. His campaign puts the cost at $8.4 million a year. This is a figure his campaign produced; voche.me has not independently checked it.",[25,40,41],{},"Lawson also says he would scrap patio fees entirely, including the first-time review fee and processing fee.",[25,43,44],{},"He says he would create a \"Report Red Tape\" portal online and as a 311 option, with a public tracker of the status and outcome of each report. He would also ask city staff to produce a quarterly report listing the top ten red tape complaints and what changed.",[25,46,47],{},"Lawson says every major city project would get a \"business impact check\" before it starts. Utilities and developers would have to pay for lane closures by the day rather than a flat fee. He says he would let businesses on a street under construction for more than three months defer property taxes and repay them interest-free, and that he would ask the province whether the city has the authority to do so.",[32,49,51],{"id":50},"what-other-candidates-have-said","What other candidates have said",[25,53,54],{},"Incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe says that if re-elected he would maintain the current small business tax reduction and eliminate patio fees, CTV News reported. CTV also reported that Sutcliffe has already announced a dedicated small business and Business Improvement District support team.",[25,56,57],{},"Jeff Leiper has not made a specific small business tax pledge, but has said he would reverse the city's return-to-office mandate for city employees, arguing the policy could hurt suburban businesses, according to CTV News.",[25,59,60,61,66,67,70],{},"Voters can compare all 14 mayoral candidates on the ",[62,63,65],"a",{"href":64},"\u002Fon\u002Fottawa-2026\u002Fcandidates#mayor","Ottawa 2026 candidates page",". Read more about ",[62,68,11],{"href":69},"\u002Fon\u002Fottawa-2026\u002Fcandidates\u002Falex-lawson"," on voche.me. Voting day is October 26.",{"title":72,"searchDepth":73,"depth":73,"links":74},"",2,[75,76],{"id":34,"depth":73,"text":35},{"id":50,"depth":73,"text":51},[78],"alex-lawson","Election news","2026-10-07","Mayoral candidate Alex Lawson announced a plan to raise the city's small business property tax discount from 15 per cent to 25 per cent, at a cost he puts at $8.4 million a year.","md",[84,87,90,93,96,99,102,105],{"question":85,"answer":86},"What is Alex Lawson's small business tax plan?","Alex Lawson, a candidate for Ottawa mayor, announced on October 7, 2026 that he would raise the city's small business property tax discount from 15 per cent to 25 per cent with no phase-in, in his first budget, according to CTV News. The City of Ottawa introduced this discount in 2022, and CTV News reported that it provides a 15 per cent reduction. Lawson says the cost would be $8.4 million a year, a figure he describes as a quarter of one year's new tax growth. This is his own stated figure. Read more about Lawson at \u002Fon\u002Fottawa-2026\u002Fcandidates\u002Falex-lawson",{"question":88,"answer":89},"What did Lawson say about patio fees?","Lawson's plan, reported by CTV News, includes scrapping patio fees entirely, including the first-time review fee and the processing fee. No cost figure for this was reported. This would apply to businesses applying to the City of Ottawa for patio permits.",{"question":91,"answer":92},"What is the red tape portal Lawson is proposing?","Lawson says he would create a \"Report Red Tape\" portal online and as a 311 option, with a public tracker that would include the status and outcome of each report, according to CTV News. He would also ask city staff to produce a quarterly report listing the top ten red tape complaints and what changed. These are Lawson's own stated plans.",{"question":94,"answer":95},"What does Lawson propose for businesses during city construction?","Lawson's plan includes a \"business impact check\" before every major city construction project starts, according to CTV News. He says utilities and developers would have to pay for lane closures by the day rather than a flat fee. He also says businesses on a street under construction for more than three months should be able to defer their property taxes and repay them interest-free after the work ends. He says he will ask the province whether the city has legal authority to do this.",{"question":97,"answer":98},"What did Mark Sutcliffe say about small business taxes?","CTV News reported that incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe says he would maintain the current small business tax reduction and eliminate patio fees if re-elected. Sutcliffe has also announced plans for a dedicated small business support team at city hall, and he says he would allow new businesses to defer property taxes interest-free in their first year of operation.",{"question":100,"answer":101},"What did Jeff Leiper say about small businesses?","CTV News reported that Jeff Leiper has not made a specific tax pledge for small businesses, but said he would reverse the city's return-to-office mandate for city employees, arguing the policy could hurt suburban businesses. Leiper has also said he would create a program that matches empty downtown storefronts with small businesses or community organizations on short-term leases.",{"question":103,"answer":104},"Who else is running for mayor of Ottawa?","According to CTV News, 14 candidates are on the City of Ottawa's list for mayor. In addition to Alex Lawson, they are: Queen Divine Priya Amber Bakshi, Zed Chebib, Bernard Couchman, Suraj Harish, Jeff Leiper, Geoff Nicholas, Josh Rachlis, Neil Saravanamuttoo, Ali Shayvard, Jacob Solomon, Mark Sutcliffe (the incumbent), Amjad Ali Syed, and Peter Westaway. See all candidates at \u002Fon\u002Fottawa-2026\u002Fcandidates#mayor",{"question":106,"answer":107},"When is voting day in the Ottawa municipal election?","Voting day in the Ottawa municipal election is October 26, 2026. An advance voting day is October 16, with voting places open from 10 am to 8 pm. Special advance voting days were held October 1 to 4. Voters choose the mayor, one city councillor per ward, and school board trustees for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the Ottawa Catholic School Board, and the two French-language school boards.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ctvnews.ca\u002Fresizer\u002Fv2\u002FD5L5VU5VI5HYBFIRWUDXGSAGUU.png?smart=true&auth=73d5ca1cd5a373339ee62a8db839cd55daa183151a3f442d7946de9764417737&width=1200&height=630","Alex Lawson at the City of Ottawa Elections Office","2026-10-07T16:49:30-04:00","Natalie van Rooy\u002FCTV News Ottawa",{"short":113,"long":114,"hashtags":115},"Ottawa mayoral candidate Alex Lawson is pledging to raise the city's small business property tax discount from 15 per cent to 25 per cent, at a cost he puts at $8.4 million a year.","Alex Lawson, a candidate for Ottawa mayor in the October 26 election, announced a small business plan on October 7. It includes raising the city's property tax discount for small businesses from 15 per cent to 25 per cent, scrapping patio fees entirely, creating a public red tape tracker, and requiring a business impact review before major city construction projects. Lawson says the tax cut would cost the city $8.4 million a year. Voting day is October 26.",[116,117,118,119],"OttawaElection2026","Ottawa","OttawaMayor","SmallBusiness",null,{"sourceName":122},"CTV News",true,"\u002Fnews\u002Flawson-small-business-taxes-2026-10-07","https:\u002F\u002Fctvnews.ca\u002Fottawa\u002Farticle\u002Fottawa-mayoral-candidate-alex-lawson-vows-to-cut-small-business-taxes-if-elected",{"title":5,"description":81},"google:CBMiuwFBVV95cUxOWmh0RnpYOEw1TGdpTS0zcHpFVHdEUE82aTB0TXRlMHl6SEVYU2VqSXQ0aG1YYUxBT2tRYURjckZxZURrS2tfNjQ0aWVWWWlYYjJUelhYam1TalNfVUNvYnJmcUtZenFRcV9TRUxfWVAwM2ZiQzFLakE5dENzNGpBa19meUNNWHF1ak10Y0ZNbDNVWTdSbmFJWmZpa3J5VHJoNU42cmNWOHFEaWsxVWRCQlhWZV9JdjFyLW9R",false,[130,132],{"label":131,"url":125},"CTV News: Ottawa mayoral candidate Alex Lawson vows to cut small business taxes if elected",{"label":133,"url":134},"voche.me: Alex Lawson candidate page","https:\u002F\u002Fvoche.me\u002Fon\u002Fottawa-2026\u002Fcandidates\u002Falex-lawson","news\u002Flawson-small-business-taxes-2026-10-07","announcement",[138,139,140,141],"Mayor","small business","taxes","platform","alex-lawson\u002Fplatform","Z9W7yYI006ATUN7ZOHI6EYXg6dpm9kmiXcZDDTLkcH8",[145,158,170,181,191,204,217,219,229,240,250],{"path":146,"title":147,"description":148,"date":149,"publishedAt":150,"author":20,"category":79,"tags":151,"image":155,"imageAlt":156,"imageCredit":157,"updated":120,"linkedinPostUrl":120},"\u002Fnews\u002Flawson-drug-recovery-plan-2026-10-09","Alex Lawson proposes 200-bed addiction recovery centre on Greenbelt land","Ottawa mayoral candidate Alex Lawson has released a drug recovery plan that calls for a 200-bed facility on leased National Capital Commission land in the Greenbelt.","2026-10-09","2026-10-09T22:37:00-04:00",[138,152,153,154],"addiction","housing","public safety","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ctvnews.ca\u002Fresizer\u002Fv2\u002F4CSB4ABRIBD4JMG364XMGAYMFM.png?smart=true&auth=bc32f0e8b6198b54ab15461b0e5cd264b6b5a0a5ff877ab1c857f5744ca59110&width=1200&height=630","Alex Lawson at the City of Ottawa Elections Office after registering for the 2026 municipal election","Natalie van Rooy \u002F CTV News Ottawa",{"path":159,"title":160,"description":161,"date":149,"publishedAt":162,"author":20,"category":79,"tags":163,"image":167,"imageAlt":168,"imageCredit":169,"updated":120,"linkedinPostUrl":120},"\u002Fnews\u002Fmayor-forum-transit-trees-2026-10-09","Seven mayoral candidates lay out transit and environment plans at Nepean Sportsplex forum","Seven of Ottawa's 14 mayoral candidates spoke at a People's Official Plan Coalition forum on Aug. 26 about transit, trees and climate resilience. Mark Sutcliffe and Alex Lawson did not attend.","2026-10-09T16:42:00-04:00",[138,164,165,166],"transit","environment","forum","https:\u002F\u002Fcapitalcurrent.ca\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F09\u002FM8A1453-CandidatesCC.jpg","Seven mayoral candidates sit at a panel table at the Nepean Sportsplex forum on August 26 2026","Justin Campbell \u002F Capital Current",{"path":171,"title":172,"description":173,"date":149,"publishedAt":174,"author":20,"category":79,"tags":175,"image":179,"imageAlt":180,"imageCredit":111,"updated":120,"linkedinPostUrl":120},"\u002Fnews\u002Fottawa-advance-voting-day-2026-10-09","Ottawa's Advance Voting Day is October 16, one day fewer than 2022","Ottawa voters have one Advance Voting Day this year, Thursday Oct. 16, from 10 am to 8 pm. The City held one fewer advance voting day than in 2022, when two were held, partly because 2022's second day was a COVID-19 measure.","2026-10-09T13:40:00-04:00",[176,177,178],"advance voting","election office","voting day","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ctvnews.ca\u002Fresizer\u002Fv2\u002FZRGMQMHMPVCQVJP74GTMR4FE5Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4f4c47303f37bcb8bcf1c1e7610bca1599d87bce8a4a4316b3b5367f615adfc&width=1200&height=630","Voters at an advance voting location at Ottawa City Hall on October 1, 2026",{"path":182,"title":183,"description":184,"date":149,"publishedAt":185,"author":20,"category":79,"tags":186,"image":188,"imageAlt":189,"imageCredit":190,"updated":120,"linkedinPostUrl":120},"\u002Fnews\u002Fsutcliffe-poll-lead-2026-10-09","Sutcliffe leads Leiper by 18 points in Nanos poll with 17 days to go","A new Nanos Research poll conducted for CTV News Ottawa shows Mark Sutcliffe with 49 per cent support among decided voters, compared to 31 per cent for Jeff Leiper.","2026-10-09T16:39:00-04:00",[138,187],"poll","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ctvnews.ca\u002Fresizer\u002Fv2\u002FBAFC234KJBBKPOMOBZ5LKVYRYQ.png?smart=true&auth=5bb6c32da8133762e2b4f2aa7ee3ef9df9800141ebb0184f8e0b9073ab67940d&width=1200&height=630","Ottawa mayor Mark Sutcliffe speaks at a podium during a campaign event","CTV News Ottawa",{"path":192,"title":193,"description":194,"date":195,"publishedAt":196,"author":20,"category":79,"tags":197,"image":201,"imageAlt":202,"imageCredit":203,"updated":120,"linkedinPostUrl":120},"\u002Fnews\u002Flawson-tax-freeze-plan-2026-10-08","Alex Lawson releases fiscal plan promising 2027 property tax freeze","Mayoral candidate Alex Lawson released a fiscal plan on Oct. 8 promising no property tax increase in 2027, followed by caps of one per cent in 2028 and two per cent in each of 2029 and 2030.","2026-10-08","2026-10-08T09:34:00-04:00",[138,198,199,200],"tax","budget","fiscal plan","https:\u002F\u002Fi.cbc.ca\u002Fais\u002F0c0a29b5-c26a-49f3-be80-03439b42aa80,1790943028687\u002Ffull\u002Fmax\u002F0\u002Fdefault.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%281%2C0%2C2766%2C1555%29%3B","Ottawa mayoral candidate Alex Lawson speaking at a debate","Michel Aspirot\u002FCBC",{"path":205,"title":206,"description":207,"date":80,"publishedAt":208,"author":20,"category":79,"tags":209,"image":214,"imageAlt":215,"imageCredit":216,"updated":120,"linkedinPostUrl":120},"\u002Fnews\u002Fkitchissippi-signs-defaced-2026-10-07","Ottawa police investigate after a hate symbol is found on Kitchissippi candidate's sign","Ottawa Police say they received a report on October 5 about hate symbols drawn on election signs belonging to Kitchissippi council candidate Subhir Uppal. The Hate and Bias Crime Unit is investigating.","2026-10-07T16:51:00-04:00",[210,211,212,213],"Councillor","ward-15-kitchissippi","campaign signs","hate","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ctvnews.ca\u002Fresizer\u002Fv2\u002F7XYIVBLHE5BADBABOVRTZUFGRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=32544c89f3a48ea7ce49a2230f2b3728bb0a8d84cd761ddc1ab3002b5ae9e1bc&width=1200&height=630","Kitchissippi Ward campaign signs on a residential street in Ottawa","Leah Larocque\u002FCTV News Ottawa",{"path":124,"title":5,"description":81,"date":80,"publishedAt":110,"author":20,"category":79,"tags":218,"image":108,"imageAlt":109,"imageCredit":111,"updated":120,"linkedinPostUrl":120},[138,139,140,141],{"path":220,"title":221,"description":222,"date":80,"publishedAt":223,"author":20,"category":79,"tags":224,"image":227,"imageAlt":228,"imageCredit":190,"updated":120,"linkedinPostUrl":120},"\u002Fnews\u002Fleiper-rural-plan-2026-10-07","Jeff Leiper lays out five-point plan for rural Ottawa","Mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper published a five-point rural platform on October 6, promising a dedicated office for rural residents and a new voice for farmers.","2026-10-07T16:48:50-04:00",[138,225,226,141],"rural","infrastructure","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ctvnews.ca\u002Fresizer\u002Fv2\u002FQIWESIVUGJDBPEHYDASSX5FBAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5935cfc4d56da3fae233cbd9e01353a14ef9b831ca99a0ab424bc8bca2b74735&width=1200&height=630","Jeff Leiper speaks with a reporter about his rural plan for Ottawa",{"path":230,"title":231,"description":232,"date":80,"publishedAt":233,"author":20,"category":79,"tags":234,"image":237,"imageAlt":238,"imageCredit":239,"updated":120,"linkedinPostUrl":120},"\u002Fnews\u002Fottawa-economic-panel-2026-10-07","Mayoral candidates lay out economic plans as Ottawa Board of Trade holds industry panel","Four Ottawa mayoral candidates released or outlined economic development positions on Tuesday, as business leaders held a panel at the Ottawa Art Gallery on downtown revitalization, transit and red tape.","2026-10-07T22:39:00-04:00",[138,235,236,164,139],"economic development","downtown","https:\u002F\u002Fi.cbc.ca\u002Fais\u002F793ea84b-3c71-4dc7-b9ab-70d75afa7107,1791341230507\u002Ffull\u002Fmax\u002F0\u002Fdefault.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C247%2C4032%2C2268%29%3BResize%3D620","Business leaders at a panel discussion on a stage at the Ottawa Art Gallery","Elyse Skura\u002FCBC",{"path":241,"title":242,"description":243,"date":80,"publishedAt":244,"author":20,"category":79,"tags":245,"image":247,"imageAlt":248,"imageCredit":249,"updated":120,"linkedinPostUrl":120},"\u002Fnews\u002Fstittsville-ward-six-race-2026-10-07","Nine candidates compete to be Stittsville's new councillor","Ward 6 has nine people on the ballot after Glen Gower announced he would not seek a third term. Traffic, transit and housing are the main topics.","2026-10-08T13:33:00-04:00",[210,246],"Ward 6 Stittsville","https:\u002F\u002Fsmartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\u002Fottawacitizen\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F10\u002Fottelectionoct6_305612857.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1200&h=900","Aerial view of Stittsville Main Street in Ottawa on October 5, 2026","Tony Caldwell \u002F Ottawa Citizen",{"path":251,"title":252,"description":253,"date":80,"publishedAt":254,"author":20,"category":79,"tags":255,"image":257,"imageAlt":258,"imageCredit":216,"updated":120,"linkedinPostUrl":120},"\u002Fnews\u002Fsutcliffe-mental-health-plan-2026-10-07","Sutcliffe promises community-wide strategy for mental health and drug crises","Incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe announced on October 7 a plan to bring health care, housing and public safety organizations together into a city-wide strategy for mental health and the toxic drug crisis.","2026-10-07T16:50:10-04:00",[138,256,154,141],"mental health","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ctvnews.ca\u002Fresizer\u002Fv2\u002FBK5Y6RLJN5GERP6SHABZVJ4L5Y.png?smart=true&auth=2b5443b3750d5a2634e3395083cf6248240ea389e15af6b931e4f40e24fda0aa&width=1200&height=630","Mark Sutcliffe speaks at an event during his 2026 re-election campaign",[260],{"slug":78,"name":11,"office":138,"party":120,"portrait":261,"colour":270,"palette":120},{"src":262,"smallSrc":263,"width":264,"height":265,"alt":266,"credit":267,"sourceUrl":268,"position":269},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Falex-lawson-640.webp","\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Falex-lawson-320.webp",640,800,"Alex Lawson, from Alex Lawson campaign (votealex.ca).","Alex Lawson campaign (votealex.ca)","https:\u002F\u002Fvotealex.ca\u002F","50% 30%","rose",1791605115247]