Ottawa councillors and mayor set for pay raise in 2027 under governance review
The 2026-30 Council Governance Review proposes raising councillor pay from $119,692 to $137,000 and the mayor's salary from $213,921 to $228,000, with the increases going into the 2027 draft budget.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on ctvnews.ca.
Ottawa city councillors are set to see their salaries rise from $119,692 to $137,000 in 2027, and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe's pay would go from $213,921 to $228,000, under a governance review whose recommendations will go into the 2027 draft budget, CTV Ottawa reported on November 12.
The increases are part of the 2026-30 Council Governance Review, which Council directed staff to prepare in September 2025, CTV reports. The review benchmarks Ottawa elected officials' pay against the average for single-tier comparator municipalities in Ontario and proposes raising salaries to match that average.
What the review proposes
The salary for a councillor would rise by $17,308 under the proposal, from $119,692 to $137,000, CTV reports. The last adjustment was in 2024, when councillors received a raise as part of a new collective agreement for City of Ottawa employees. That agreement included a retroactive increase for 2023, bringing base councillor pay to $116,735 in 2024.
Mayor Sutcliffe's salary would increase by $14,079 under the proposal, from $213,921 to $228,000, CTV reports.
How the review was done
CTV reports that the review was carried out by MNP Business Consulting and Advisory Services LLP. MNP had completed a mid-term governance review in 2024 but did not make a salary recommendation at that time, noting instead that the City should consider implementing a regular market review process every two to three years, with any adjustments to take effect at the start of a new council term.
The 2026-30 governance review acted on that recommendation. CTV reports that the Governance Review document says council has the authority to set salaries and adjustments for the mayor and councillors, and that salaries have historically been set through third-party reviews.
What a councillor said
Councillor Shawn Menard told Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa at Work with Kristy Cameron that the approach makes sense, CTV reports. "Some might say it should be less because, you know, that's not the primary objective of being a political person and I agree, it's to serve the public," Menard said. "Some people say it should be more because you want to attract good people to those jobs and we're seeing people run uncontested. At the end of the day, there's no great way to do this, but I think the way they're going about it, on the staff side, to look at the data and come out with the average makes a lot of sense."
What comes next
CTV reports that the newly elected council is sworn in on November 15 and holds its first full meeting on November 25. The salary increases would be included in the 2027 draft budget, which council reviews and approves as part of the annual budget process.
Residents who want to follow the budget process can find meeting agendas and minutes at pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com, the City's public meetings calendar.
Questions this story answers
How much would Ottawa councillors and the mayor be paid under the proposed increase?
CTV Ottawa reports that the 2026-30 Council Governance Review proposes raising the salary for a councillor from $119,692 to $137,000, an increase of $17,308. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe's salary would rise from $213,921 to $228,000, an increase of $14,079. The 2027 draft budget is where the increases would take effect, according to CTV.
Why are Ottawa councillor and mayoral salaries going up?
CTV Ottawa reports that in September 2025, City Council directed staff to adjust remuneration for elected officials to align with the 'average remuneration for comparator municipalities' as part of the 2026-30 Council Governance Review. The review by MNP Business Consulting and Advisory Services LLP benchmarks Ottawa's salaries against other Ontario single-tier municipalities and proposes raising them to the average of that group.
What is the 2026-30 Council Governance Review?
CTV Ottawa reports that the 2026-30 Council Governance Review is a review process that covers how Ottawa City Council operates during the 2026-30 term. It includes a review of elected officials' salaries. Council directed staff to conduct the review in September 2025, with any salary adjustments to take effect through the 2027 draft budget process.
Who conducted the salary review?
CTV Ottawa reports that the review was carried out by MNP Business Consulting and Advisory Services LLP as part of the mid-term governance review. MNP had also conducted a review in 2024 but did not make a salary recommendation at that time, suggesting instead that the city implement a formal market review process every two to three years.
What did Councillor Menard say about the pay raise?
CTV Ottawa reports that Councillor Shawn Menard told Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa at Work with Kristy Cameron: 'Some might say it should be less because, you know, that's not the primary objective of being a political person and I agree, it's to serve the public. Some people say it should be more because you want to attract good people to those jobs and we're seeing people run uncontested. At the end of the day, there's no great way to do this, but I think the way they're going about it, on the staff side, to look at the data and come out with the average makes a lot of sense.'
When did Ottawa councillors last receive a pay increase?
CTV Ottawa reports that in 2024 councillors received a pay increase as part of a new collective agreement awarded to City of Ottawa employees, which included a retroactive pay increase for 2023. The base pay for councillors in 2024 was $116,735 under that agreement. The proposed 2027 increase would bring the salary to $137,000.
When will the new council vote on this?
CTV Ottawa reports that the newly elected council is sworn in on Monday, November 15, 2026, with the first full council meeting set for November 25. The proposed salaries would go into the 2027 draft budget, which council considers during its budget process later in the term. CTV does not say on which date council will vote on the specific salary figures.
Where can residents follow the Ottawa budget process?
Ottawa City Council meeting agendas and minutes are posted at pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com. Budget documents and the 2027 draft budget will be posted there and on the City's website at ottawa.ca as the budget process moves forward in the new term.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- CTV News Ottawa: Ottawa councillors, mayor could receive a pay raise in 2027, November 12, 2026ctvnews.ca
- City of Ottawa public meetings calendarpub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com
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