Draft Budget 2026

Opportunities for participation in the budget process

It’s your city, your budget, and we want to hear from you! The City of Ottawa engages with residents each year to gather ideas and feedback as it drafts the budget for City Council’s consideration. You have many opportunities to provide your input on items reflected in the budget year-round through your Councillor’s office, committee meetings, social media, contacting 3-1-1 and scheduled engagement opportunities during the budget process.

Your feedback helps shape the City’s budget priorities and contributes to decisions about investing in a sustainable, secure, and prosperous city for all.

Year-round:

• Submit your ideas to your Ward Councillor.
• Watch, attend or participate in committee and Council meetings to learn more about important decisions at City Hall.
• Provide input on public engagement opportunities that matter to you through Engage Ottawa.
• Follow and communicate with us on Facebook and X @ottawacity, using the hashtag #OttBudget
• Call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). Rural residents call 613-580-2400

Drafting the budget:

• Participate in the budget questionnaire from May 26 to June 30. Your responses on the city’s priorities will help shape the development of the draft budget.
• Participate in Councillor-led public consultations. Check back regularly on this page or Ottawa.ca as dates will be added as soon as they are available. Consultations will focus on how the budget is developed, what is within and outside the City’s control when it comes to drafting the budget, and to hear your feedback.

Feedback on the Draft Budget:

• The draft budget will be tabled at Council on November 12.
• Following tabling residents can provide feedback on the draft budget in the following ways:
  1. Ask questions through the City’s Engage Ottawa webpage. Question submissions will be open for the public between November 12 and December 8.
  2. Join us at a standing committee meeting. All City Council and standing committee meetings are open to the public and your attendance is welcomed and encouraged. Members of the public may provide either written or oral submissions (or both) to committee meetings related to items on the Committee’s agenda. Check back regularly on this page or on Ottawa.ca to stay current with the standing committee dates for budget considerations.
  3. You can live stream meetings and access past recordings on the Ottawa City Council YouTube Channel. Regular City Council meetings are broadcast live on RogersTV Cable 22 and live streamed on the RogersTV website.

Budget adoption:

• Council will approve the 2026 budget on December 10. The adopted budget books will be updated and posted to the 2026 Budget webpage in Q2 2026.

For more budget information, visit Ottawa.ca. Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.