The Ottawa Board of Trade, in partnership with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab, has launched the inaugural Ottawa Economic Scorecard to give our city a clear and honest baseline for economic performance. For too long, Ottawa’s progress has lacked a common set of facts – now, this data-driven initiative provides the foundation for shared understanding and coordinated action.
The results are encouraging: Ottawa scores a solid B, ranking near the top among Canada’s largest metropolitan areas thanks to strong fundamentals, a highly educated workforce, world-class research assets, and an exceptional quality of life. These are real strengths and validate Ottawa’s status as a leading Canadian city. But for a G7 capital, “B” is not good enough. This new Scorecard makes it clear that Ottawa has the potential for so much more and must aim higher.
Nearly half of Ottawa’s workforce is anchored in the public sector, which brings stability but also exposes the city to risk. As growth, innovation, and diversification become more critical, this Scorecard spotlights the need for both safeguarding our advantages and addressing vulnerabilities. To reach its true potential, Ottawa must invest in the infrastructure that helps people and goods move quickly and reliably, make it easier to start and grow businesses, and focus on making downtown safer, more vibrant, and a magnet for residents, visitors, and employers alike.
The findings offer a roadmap for the future. Ottawa excels in greenspace and housing affordability, boasts one of the country’s most educated populations, and is recognized as a top destination for visitors. But challenges – such as youth retention, fewer new business startups, and the need for improved commercial space conditions – must be overcome through decisive, collaborative action.
The Ottawa Board of Trade will use this Scorecard as a north star for advocacy, aligning public and private leaders behind a collective mission: with deliberate effort, Ottawa can become one of the most dynamic, competitive mid-sized cities in North America. Our “B” is a baseline, not our destiny – now is the moment to act together and realize Ottawa’s full promise.
