What Ottawa's four main mayoral candidates have promised before voting day

According to CTV News Ottawa, Lawson's campaign platform promises a zero per cent property tax freeze in 2027. His platform identified between $77 million and $148 million a year in budget savings and new revenue, including $20 million to $40 million a year by opening city procurement to more companies. He also promises to end the vacant unit tax.

CTV News Ottawa reports that Leiper has not set a specific property tax target. He says he will keep increases 'affordable, reasonable and predictable.' His platform proposes a one per cent infrastructure levy added to property tax bills to pay for infrastructure work across the city.

According to CTV News Ottawa, Saravanamuttoo told reporters in September that his 'commitment is to keep it as low as possible.' He proposes a zero-based budgeting approach each year and a comprehensive spending review of city programs. He promises to open the City of Ottawa's books within 100 days of taking office.

CTV News Ottawa reports that Sutcliffe has pledged to find $250 million in new savings and efficiencies in the City of Ottawa budget. He has also promised to hire 350 new first responders and to appoint a Downtown Safety Czar to coordinate the city's response to the drug and mental health crisis.

CTV News Ottawa reports: Lawson promises to bring back rush-hour bus rapid transit and rebuild the OC Transpo schedule, but says 'the system is not ready for more money yet.' Leiper proposes a Transit Service Guarantee with on-time performance standards, dedicated bus lanes and raised income limits for the EquiPass. Saravanamuttoo proposes a 'Buck a Ride' fare with a monthly cap of $40. Sutcliffe promises to purchase 200 more buses by 2030, hire 250 new drivers and mechanics, and bring back express routes.

According to CTV News Ottawa, Leiper announced a $50 million plan in October to upgrade sewer and green infrastructure in the Bay, College and Knoxdale-Merivale wards, following the summer flooding. He says he will 'fix what we have' with a multi-year plan to address the maintenance backlog and improve parks, lighting and public spaces in neighbourhoods across Ottawa.

CTV News Ottawa reports Sutcliffe has pledged $500 million by 2030 to develop 1,000 kilometres of new or resurfaced traffic lanes, with rural road funding going up by $60 million. He also pledges $400 million in renewal work at city recreation facilities, plus 150 new parks and four new community centres.

You can read the profile of each Ottawa mayoral candidate on voche.me. Alex Lawson, Jeff Leiper, Neil Saravanamuttoo and Mark Sutcliffe each have a page listing their background, platform positions and sources. Ottawa voting day is Monday, October 26, 2026. Voting places are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

According to CTV News Ottawa, Saravanamuttoo's platform commits to establishing a public option for housing in Ottawa, with the goal of raising the share of non-market housing from five per cent to ten per cent. He also pledges to build tiny homes in a transitional village and to expand the ANCHOR program to respond to non-threatening mental health calls.

CTV News Ottawa reports that Lawson's 'Recovery First Ottawa' plan proposes a 200-bed recovery campus he calls 'HopeWorks,' which he says would be paid for by the Ontario government. His 'Grow the Police with the City' plan calls for raising the police patrol minimum to 64 calls, which his campaign says would require about 110 more officers at a cost of $20 million a year.