The Ottawa City Council approved a growth plan, called the official plan, last year, but it has not yet received the green light from the provincial government. The plan includes a focus on intensification, building more housing in a denser space, usually by building multi-unit homes, or building up instead of out, although the plan also includes expanding the city's urban boundaries.

However, the character of neighborhoods is a constant debate, with residents of neighborhoods dominated by single-family homes - known as "R1 zoning" - sometimes expressing their opposition to intensification in the area.

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"Ottawa essentially needs to eliminate R1 zoning. It has a very strong intensification goal of 90,000 homes over the next 25 years to be absorbed in existing neighborhoods. So, the only way we will achieve this goal is by eliminating R1 zoning and allowing for more intensification - semi-detached and mid-rise apartments - whatever you have.

"R1 zoning was raised during the election campaign on Monday when mayoral candidate Bob Chiarelli pledged to protect neighborhoods, arguing, "Unlike my left-wing opponent, I do not support killing single-family neighborhoods in Ottawa."

"Chiarelli said he believes intensification can be achieved in other ways, including using city-owned land, building housing over existing commercial space, and quick approvals for adding basement and attic suites.

"I do not support that. The people currently in R1 have invested their life savings in their homes, they deserve to trust that it will be in their possession for many generations to come."

"In most cases, this will allow, for example, a duplex to replace a single-family home, or a low or mid-rise building on a secondary lane like Gladstone; it's not a shocking change in any way."

"I think we need to consult more, make sure people are comfortable with the intensification taking place, but I do not support the complete removal of R1."

Other candidates have already commented on this issue. Brandon Bay says he would like to see an end to R1 zoning.

His platform includes allowing the construction of duplexes, triplexes, and residential homes citywide. Nour Kadri said he would like to increase population density in targeted areas, especially those close to transit centers and schools.

Election day is October 24. There are two advance voting days on Friday and the following Friday before the main vote.                                                       Edited by: Yusra Bamtraf