Catherine McKenney is leading Mark Sutcliffe in a tight race for Ottawa mayor, but a new poll indicates that 35 percent of Ottawa residents are still undecided with less than three weeks left in the municipal election campaign.

Nanos Research said, "There is a statistical tie between Catherine McKenney and Mark Sutcliffe in the best choice." The Nanos Research poll for CTV News Ottawa asked voters, "Who would you vote for if the election were held today?"

Twenty-nine percent of voters said they would vote for McKenney, while 24 percent of voters said they would vote for Sutcliffe. Bob Chiarelli came in third, with nine percent of respondents saying they would vote for the former Ottawa mayor.

With less than three weeks remaining until the October 24 election date, and polling stations opening on Friday, the poll shows that more than one in three Ottawa residents say they are still undecided about who they will vote for. There are 14 candidates competing for Ottawa mayor in the election.

The poll showed that 0.9 percent of voters said they would vote for Noor Qadri, 0.8 percent would vote for Brandon Bay, 0.6 percent support Param Singh, and 0.5 percent of voters said they would vote for Mike Maguire. Nanos Research said McKenney, the current Somerset Ward councillor, is the best choice for residents living downtown and in the west end, along with younger voters.

Sutcliffe, the broadcaster and entrepreneur, is the best choice for residents living in the east end and rural Ottawa, while older residents are three times more likely to vote for him, according to Nanos Research. The poll showed that 42.9 percent of voters living in downtown Ottawa said they would vote for McKenney as mayor, compared to 16.6 percent for Sutcliffe,

while McKenney leads Sutcliffe in the west end by 26.4 percent to 25.3 percent. In the east end of Ottawa, Sutcliffe leads McKenney by 27.4 percent to 24.8 percent, and leads in rural Ottawa by 26.9 percent to 20.3 percent.

The Nanos poll showed McKenney is the best choice for participants aged 18 to 34, while Sutcliffe is the best choice for voters aged 35 to 54 and 55 and older.

Thirty-three percent of women said they would vote for McKenney, compared to 21 percent for Sutcliffe, while 28 percent of men said they would vote for Sutcliffe, compared to 24 percent for women.

Nanos conducted an online survey of 503 Ottawa residents aged 18 and over, between September 23 and October 3. Nanos conducted a non-probability survey representative of the city, and there is no margin of error. Campaign platforms Nanos poll was released as the two main mayoral contenders launched their financial platforms for their campaigns this week.

McKenney unveiled her financial plan Thursday morning, promising a 3 percent annual property tax cap. McKenney's campaign platform includes freezing transit fees and introducing free transit for students under 17, investing an additional $500,000 annually to support community needs and social services, and a $250 million plan to accelerate cycling infrastructure over four years using Green Bonds,

and pledging Ottawa will be net zero by 2050. Sutcliffe promised to cap property tax increases at 2 to 2.5 percent in 2023 and 2024, and find efficiencies ranging from $35 to $60 million at City Hall.

He also promised to freeze transit fees for one year, reduce recreation fees for children and youth by 10 percent, spend $100 million over four years on roads and bike paths, and increase funding to community service agencies by $4 million annually. Both Maguire and Chiarelli proposed no new tax increases for 2023. Edited by: Yusra Bamtraf