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.
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Mayoral candidate Alex Lawson released a fiscal plan on Oct. 8, 2026 promising to freeze Ottawa property taxes in 2027, CBC reported. The plan commits to no property tax increase that year, followed by a one per cent ceiling in 2028 and two per cent ceilings in each of 2029 and 2030.
The plan is Lawson's response to persistent budget pressure at City Hall. CBC reports that Ottawa's 2026 operating budget is $5.2 billion, plus $1.9 billion for capital. Property taxes rose 3.75 per cent in 2026, an increase CBC says cost the average urban homeowner about $166. The last time Ottawa froze property taxes was 2007 under Mayor Larry O'Brien.
Lawson's campaign says the freeze is achievable. The plan puts the savings target for his first year at between $85 million and $105 million to cover budget pressures and his own spending commitments. The plan says it identifies between $77 million and $148 million in savings per year, largely from procurement changes, bringing consultant work in-house and tighter hiring. These are the campaign's figures and have not been independently verified.
Lawson has also promised to scrap the vacant unit tax, which his campaign says currently raises $12.5 million for affordable housing, while committing to keep that housing money in the budget. He has also promised a higher property tax break for small businesses, which his campaign estimates would cost $8.4 million in lost revenue, and to remove paid parking across the city.
What the other candidates said
Incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has promised to keep increases in the range of two to 2.5 per cent in 2027 and 2028, but told CBC it is not realistic to commit to a number beyond that.
Jeff Leiper responded with a written statement criticizing the plan. "A tax freeze sounds great until the service you count on gets cut, or the bill lands on our kids," CBC quoted him as saying. Leiper has not committed to an overall tax target, though he has said he would direct a separate one per cent increase toward infrastructure repair.
Neil Saravanamuttoo also responded in a written statement. "Alex Lawson, like Mark Sutcliffe, is pulling numbers out of the air to make promises they have no way of knowing if they can keep," CBC quoted him as saying. Saravanamuttoo has said he will not commit to a specific tax figure until he has reviewed the full budget.
Lawson's campaign said the freeze would not mean cuts to front-line workers. "No bus driver, paramedic, firefighter or snowplow operator would lose their job," CBC quoted the plan as saying.
Voting day in Ottawa is 26 October 2026. You can see all candidates running for mayor, including Alex Lawson, at the Ottawa 2026 candidates page.
Questions this story answers
What did Alex Lawson promise about property taxes?
According to a fiscal plan released by his campaign on Oct. 8, 2026, Alex Lawson is promising a property tax freeze for 2027, meaning no increase at all that year. His plan also commits to a one per cent ceiling in 2028 and two per cent ceilings in each of 2029 and 2030. These are commitments from Lawson's campaign, not numbers set by the City of Ottawa.
When did Alex Lawson release this plan?
Lawson released his fiscal plan on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, according to CBC. The CBC article was published at 11:59 AM Eastern on that date. The release came with 18 days left before voting day on Oct. 26. This is a separate announcement from an earlier promise Lawson made about cutting property taxes for small businesses.
How much does Lawson say he needs to save to fund a 2027 freeze?
Lawson's plan says he would need to find between $85 million and $105 million in savings in his first year to cover budget pressures and his own spending commitments. His plan claims it identifies between $77 million and $148 million in savings per year. These are his campaign's figures and have not been independently verified.
What is Ottawa's city operating budget for 2026?
CBC reports that the city's 2026 operating budget is $5.2 billion, plus $1.9 billion for capital spending. These are the figures CBC cited in its Oct. 8 report on Lawson's fiscal plan. CBC also notes that some departments, such as OC Transpo, have posted persistent deficits, and that the budget faces pressure from inflation, fuel prices and pay increases for city staff.
How much did Ottawa property taxes rise in 2026?
CBC reports that taxes increased by 3.75 per cent in 2026, which meant about $166 more in property taxes for the average urban homeowner that year. Taxes had increased by 3.9 per cent in 2025. In Sutcliffe's first two years as mayor, taxes increased by 2.5 per cent each year. All of these figures come from CBC's Oct. 8 report.
What has incumbent Mark Sutcliffe promised on property taxes?
According to CBC's reporting, Sutcliffe has promised to keep tax increases in the range of two to 2.5 per cent in 2027 and 2028, but has said it is not realistic to make firm commitments beyond that. He has said he would aim to keep any increases as low as possible.
How did Jeff Leiper respond to Lawson's tax plan?
Leiper responded with a written statement quoted by CBC, saying that a tax freeze would result in fewer city workers and worse services. 'A tax freeze sounds great until the service you count on gets cut, or the bill lands on our kids,' Leiper said in the statement. He did not commit to a specific overall tax target himself, though he has said he would dedicate a separate one per cent increase to fixing infrastructure.
How did Neil Saravanamuttoo respond to Lawson's plan?
Saravanamuttoo issued a written statement quoted by CBC, saying the approach was not honest. 'Alex Lawson, like Mark Sutcliffe, is pulling numbers out of the air to make promises they have no way of knowing if they can keep,' he said. Saravanamuttoo has previously said it would be irresponsible to commit to a specific tax number before reviewing the full budget.
When was the last time Ottawa froze property taxes?
CBC reports that the last property tax freeze in Ottawa was in 2007 under Mayor Larry O'Brien. According to CBC, taxes increased steadily throughout the rest of O'Brien's term after that single freeze year. If Lawson is elected and delivers the freeze, 2027 would be the first year with no property tax increase in two decades.
Where can I learn more about the candidates for Ottawa mayor?
You can see all candidates running for Ottawa mayor, including Alex Lawson, Jeff Leiper, Mark Sutcliffe and Neil Saravanamuttoo, on the Ottawa 2026 candidates page at voche.me. Voting day in Ottawa is 26 October 2026. Advance voting days ran from Oct. 1 to Oct. 4, and the advance voting day is Oct. 16, with polls open 10 am to 8 pm.
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