---
title: "Mayoral candidates lay out economic plans as Ottawa Board of Trade holds industry panel"
description: "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."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/ottawa-economic-panel-2026-10-07"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:05:50.296Z"
---

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](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/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](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/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](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/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](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/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](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates#mayor). Voting day in Ottawa is October 26, 2026. Advance voting runs October 1 to 4 and October 16.

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