OTTAWA, ONT. — Ottawa’s east end, primarily Orleans has had difficulty attracting new employment.    

Under the city’s official plan, neighbourhoods should have a jobs to household ratio of 1.3.   Right now, in Orleans, it’s 0.5.     

The city’s economic development committee is considering a plan to offer up 20 million dollars in tax breaks for new businesses settling in Orleans or along a strip of Carling Avenue between Bayshore and Pinecrest.   Councillor Stephen Blais told 1310News  he supports the plan. 

“As one city,  we invest in the different parts of our city where there is a need.  In Orleans, there’s a need for high quality jobs”.

Blais says this would only apply to new businesses locating in Ottawa and not some that would move from one section of the city.    But Kanata councillor Allan Hubley told 1310News that it still creates an uneven playing field. 

“By giving another area of town an advantage with taxes is not something I would support”.

The cost of the program would be 20 million dollars and the plan needs full city council approval on November 14.