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.
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The Ottawa Board of Trade held an economic panel at the Ottawa Art Gallery on Tuesday evening, October 7, placing business leaders in front of an audience that included Ottawa's mayoral candidates, CBC reported. The same day, three of the four major candidates released or outlined their economic development plans.
Representatives from Ottawa's tourism, defence and real estate development sectors took the stage. Michael Crockatt, president and CEO of Ottawa Tourism, said a city that people want to visit becomes a place where people want to live, work and invest. Kelly Rhodenizer, senior vice-president of development at Colonnade BridgePort, said permit delays continue to slow housing projects. She told the panel that city planners often say no rather than asking how to help, and called on the next mayor and council to implement better policies.
Sutcliffe: patio fees, Gatineau trade zone
Mark Sutcliffe announced his economic plan the day before, on Monday October 6. According to a media release cited by CBC, the plan includes extending Ottawa's existing small business tax reduction, permanently eliminating patio fees for bars and restaurants, and creating what he calls a "regional economic zone" to allow free trade with Gatineau. He is also promising to work to attract more events and direct flights to Ottawa.
Sutcliffe said on Monday that more investment, more jobs, capitalizing on defence spending and free trade with Gatineau are how Ottawa will build a stronger and more resilient local economy, according to CBC.
Lawson: raise small business discount to 25 percent
Alex Lawson released his plan on October 7. He is proposing to increase the discount that Ottawa's small business tax reduction provides from 15 percent to 25 percent in his first budget, according to CBC. He also wants to permanently eliminate patio fees.
Lawson told Radio-Canada that small businesses are struggling because of red tape and crime. He wants a way for businesses to report red tape to the city, with every complaint "acknowledged within five business days and tracked publicly," CBC reported.
Leiper: transit and housing before trade deals
Jeff Leiper told CBC the city must first get reliable transit, affordable housing and better infrastructure right. He also questioned Sutcliffe's Gatineau proposal.
"It sounds like an interesting idea but it is well outside the municipal purview. I would suggest that Sutcliffe is better focused on creating the conditions for economic prosperity that are within Ottawa's control," Leiper said, according to CBC.
Saravanamuttoo: transparent permits process
Neil Saravanamuttoo told CBC in a written statement that he had not yet released a full economic plan but that it would focus on getting city hall out of the way. He said he will create a more predictable and transparent process for permits and approvals, improve coordination around construction and make it easier for businesses to hold events.
Voters can compare all four candidates' positions at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates#mayor. Voting day in Ottawa is October 26, 2026. Advance voting runs October 1 to 4 and October 16.
Questions this story answers
What happened at the Ottawa Board of Trade panel on October 7?
The Ottawa Board of Trade held an economic leaders panel at the Ottawa Art Gallery on October 7, 2026. Representatives from Ottawa's tourism, defence and real estate development sectors spoke on the city's economic priorities. Michael Crockatt of Ottawa Tourism, Megan Cornell of General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada and Kelly Rhodenizer of Colonnade BridgePort were among the speakers. CBC reported the discussion moderated by pollster David Coletto. Common themes among the business panelists included attracting people to the city, revitalizing the downtown and reducing permit delays for housing projects.
What is Mark Sutcliffe's economic development plan?
CBC reported that Mark Sutcliffe announced his economic plan on Monday October 6. According to a media release cited by CBC, the plan includes extending Ottawa's existing small business tax reduction, permanently eliminating patio fees for bars and restaurants, creating a 'regional economic zone' to allow free trade with Gatineau, and working to attract more events and direct flights to Ottawa. Sutcliffe was in the audience at the Board of Trade panel on Tuesday evening.
What is Alex Lawson's small business tax proposal?
CBC reported that Alex Lawson released his economic development plan on October 7. He is proposing to increase the discount that Ottawa's small business tax reduction provides, from 15 percent to 25 percent, in his first budget. He also wants to permanently eliminate patio fees. Lawson told Radio-Canada he wants businesses to be able to report red tape to the city, with every complaint acknowledged within five business days and tracked publicly, according to CBC.
What did Jeff Leiper say about economic development?
Jeff Leiper told CBC that the city must focus on transit, affordable housing and infrastructure. He said those are the basics that will lead to a more prosperous Ottawa. He also questioned Mark Sutcliffe's proposal for free trade with Gatineau, saying it is 'well outside the municipal purview' and that Sutcliffe would be better focused on things within Ottawa's control. Leiper made these comments on Monday, the day before the Board of Trade panel.
What is Neil Saravanamuttoo's position on economic development?
Neil Saravanamuttoo had not yet released a full economic plan as of October 7, according to CBC. He told CBC News in a written statement that city hall has been failing on the fundamentals, and that his plan will focus on creating safer communities, more reliable transportation and infrastructure, and livable communities. He said he will create a more predictable and transparent process for permits and approvals, improve coordination around construction to reduce disruption, and make it easier for businesses to hold events.
What did the business panelists say about downtown Ottawa?
The business leaders at the Board of Trade panel on October 7 described downtown revitalization as a shared priority. Kelly Rhodenizer of Colonnade BridgePort told the audience that the city is pushing developers to build more affordable homes but that permit delays make it hard to do so. Megan Cornell of General Dynamics said the city has done a good job trying to revive downtown since the COVID pandemic but that public transit and housing remain key concerns for attracting employees to Ottawa.
Did any candidate criticize another's economic plan?
Yes. Jeff Leiper criticized Mark Sutcliffe's proposal for a regional economic zone with Gatineau. CBC quoted Leiper saying the plan 'sounds like an interesting idea but it is well outside the municipal purview.' Leiper added that Sutcliffe would be better focused on the conditions for economic prosperity that are within Ottawa's control, such as transit and housing.
Where can I find each candidate's full economic platform?
You can read profiles of all four candidates at voche.me. Mark Sutcliffe's page is at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/mark-sutcliffe, Alex Lawson's at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/alex-lawson, Jeff Leiper's at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/jeff-leiper and Neil Saravanamuttoo's at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/neil-saravanamuttoo. Voting day in Ottawa is October 26, 2026.
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