Ottawa candidates prioritize affordability, housing options and more efficient local government in OREB survey
October 15, 2026
Survey finds 76% of responding mayoral and councillor candidates support more housing in existing neighbourhoods, while 88% back faster development approvals.
Ottawa’s mayoral and councillor candidates are signalling strong support for expanding housing options, improving affordability and making municipal government more efficient, according to new candidate survey results released by the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB).
“What’s encouraging about these results is the level of agreement among responding candidates on practical measures to make it easier to build housing in Ottawa,” said Tami Eades, President of OREB. “These are important areas where the next council can work together to make real progress on housing affordability.”
The survey, which received responses from 51 candidates seeking election to Ottawa City Council, including six mayoral candidates and 45 councillor candidates, reveals substantial support for practical measures to increase housing supply, modernize municipal approvals and improve the delivery of local government services.
Among responding candidates, 76% support building more housing in existing communities, while 63% support pre-zoning land for housing and 88% support establishing performance targets for development and building permit approvals. The findings come as Ottawa residents prepare to elect their next municipal council on October 26, with affordability, housing availability, infrastructure and municipal service delivery among the issues shaping the campaign.
Strong support for more housing in existing neighbourhoods
The survey reveals considerable support among candidates for accommodating more housing within Ottawa’s established communities, including measures to simplify the planning process and expand housing choices.
Among responding candidates:
- 76% support building more housing in existing communities.
- 63% support pre-zoning land for housing.
- 76% support standardized planning application requirements.
- 88% support approval and building permit timelines with performance targets.
- 75% support digital permitting and online approvals.
“The next Ottawa city council must get behind a wider range of housing options, including townhomes, multiplexes, secondary suites and other missing-middle housing,” said Eades. “Ottawa is a leader in Ontario for pro-housing policies, but there’s still a lot more work to do.”
Candidates emphasize more efficient and accountable local government
The survey also found particularly strong support for measures intended to improve municipal efficiency, accountability and service delivery.
Among responding candidates:
- 96% support establishing measurable service standards and publicly reporting performance for planning approvals, permitting and other key services.
- 96% support adopting modern digital services that allow residents and businesses to apply for permits, licences and approvals through a single online portal.
- 82% support requiring public justification for property tax increases above inflation, including evidence that lower-cost alternatives were considered.
“Ottawa residents want housing they can afford and municipal services that deliver value for their tax dollars,” said Nicole Christy, OREB CEO. “OREB looks forward to working constructively with the next mayor and council to advance these shared priorities. We encourage all residents and members to get out and vote on October 26th. Let’s work together to continue to build a great city.”
These findings indicate widespread interest in modernizing municipal operations, improving transparency and ensuring residents receive value for their tax dollars. OREB encourages residents and REALTORS® to review candidates’ positions, learn more about the issues affecting their communities and participate in the October 26 municipal election.
