Ottawa voters put infrastructure and affordability at top of housing priorities
A Nanos Research poll of 762 Ottawa residents, conducted Oct. 4-8, found 39 per cent want the City to focus on improving infrastructure to support growth, and 35 per cent said keeping homes affordable should be the top priority.
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Improving infrastructure to support growth is the top housing priority for Ottawa voters, according to a new Nanos Research poll conducted for CTV News Ottawa. Affordability ranked a close second.
Nanos Research surveyed 762 randomly selected Ottawa residents between Oct. 4 and Oct. 8. Respondents were asked what the City of Ottawa's top priority should be when making housing decisions. Thirty-nine per cent chose improving infrastructure to support growth, and 35 per cent chose keeping homes affordable.
The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Ten per cent of respondents said protecting existing neighbourhoods should be the top priority. Eight per cent chose building more homes. One per cent chose more affordable or public housing, and 1 per cent chose better planning.
Downtown splits from the rest of Ottawa
The results differ by part of the city. Respondents in the east, west and rural areas all ranked improving infrastructure first. Downtown Ottawa respondents ranked keeping homes affordable first at 35 per cent, with infrastructure second at 34 per cent.
In the west end, 38 per cent chose infrastructure and 37 per cent chose affordability. In east Ottawa, 42 per cent ranked infrastructure first. In rural Ottawa, 43 per cent chose infrastructure as the top priority.
Age also shapes priorities
Younger and middle-aged respondents leaned toward infrastructure. Improving infrastructure was the top choice for those aged 18 to 34 at 42 per cent and for those aged 35 to 54 at 47 per cent. For respondents aged 55 and older, keeping homes affordable was the top priority at 38 per cent. Eleven per cent of respondents aged 18 to 34 said building more homes should be the City's top housing priority.
CTV News Ottawa reported that the Ottawa Home Builders Association found new home sales increased over the summer after the Ontario and federal governments expanded an HST rebate to all buyers for a one-year period. A total of 3,557 new homes were sold in Ottawa from January to August 2026, up from 2,365 in the same period in 2025.
What this means for Oct. 26
Voters choosing between the 14 candidates for mayor of Ottawa can compare their positions on housing before casting a ballot on Oct. 26. Candidate profiles, including each candidate's stated platform and source links, are at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates#mayor. Advance voting day is Friday, Oct. 16, with voting places open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Questions this story answers
What did the Nanos poll find about Ottawa voters' housing priorities?
Nanos Research surveyed 762 randomly selected Ottawa residents between Oct. 4 and Oct. 8 for CTV News Ottawa. Respondents were asked what the City of Ottawa's top priority should be when making housing decisions. Thirty-nine per cent said the City should focus on improving infrastructure to support growth. Thirty-five per cent said keeping homes affordable should be the top priority. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
How do housing priorities differ across Ottawa neighbourhoods?
The Nanos Research poll found that respondents in the east, west and rural areas of Ottawa all ranked improving infrastructure to support growth as their top housing priority. Downtown Ottawa respondents ranked keeping homes affordable first at 35 per cent, with 34 per cent choosing infrastructure. In the west end, 38 per cent chose infrastructure and 37 per cent chose affordability. In the east, 42 per cent ranked infrastructure first. In rural Ottawa, 43 per cent chose infrastructure as the top housing priority.
What other housing priorities did Ottawa voters mention?
After infrastructure at 39 per cent and affordability at 35 per cent, the Nanos Research poll found 10 per cent of respondents said protecting existing neighbourhoods should be the City's top housing priority. Eight per cent said the top priority should be building more homes. One per cent said more affordable or public housing, and 1 per cent said better planning. The poll was conducted Oct. 4-8 among 762 randomly selected Ottawa residents.
How do housing priorities vary by age in Ottawa?
The Nanos Research poll found that improving infrastructure to support growth was the top housing priority for respondents aged 18 to 34 at 42 per cent, and for respondents aged 35 to 54 at 47 per cent. For respondents aged 55 and older, keeping homes affordable was the top priority at 38 per cent. Among those aged 18 to 34, 11 per cent said building more homes should be the City's top housing priority.
What context did CTV News Ottawa give for the housing poll results?
CTV News Ottawa reported that the Ottawa Home Builders Association found new home sales increased over the summer after the Ontario and federal governments expanded the HST rebate to all buyers for a one-year period. A total of 3,557 new homes were sold in Ottawa in the period from January to August 2026, up from 2,365 in the same period in 2025. Development charges are one-time fees municipalities place on new properties to help pay for infrastructure costs related to growth.
Who conducted this poll and how was it done?
Nanos Research conducted the survey exclusively for CTV News Ottawa between Oct. 4 and Oct. 8, 2026. It included 762 randomly selected Ottawa residents, with interviews completed by telephone and online. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The article was published by CTV News on Oct. 11, 2026.
Where do the Ottawa mayoral candidates stand on housing?
Fourteen candidates are running for mayor of Ottawa in the Oct. 26 election. To compare their stated positions on housing and other issues, visit voche.me. Each candidate profile includes sources and links to what the candidate has said publicly. Advance voting day is Friday, Oct. 16, with voting places open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
When can Ottawa voters cast their ballots?
Ottawa's main election day is Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. The advance voting day is Friday, Oct. 16, with voting places open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Special advance voting ran from Oct. 1 to Oct. 4. To see voting places and check your registration, visit the City of Ottawa's election website. Candidate profiles are listed at voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/candidates.
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