The Ottawa City Council voted to keep the tax on vacant apartments and also made some changes.
Orleans West-Innes Earl. Laura Dudas introduced a proposal for the return of council members to the council table, which was supported by Osgood Cone. George Daruz is urging the city to eliminate the tax in 2024, saying the number of homes declared vacant was much higher than employees expected.

An East End council member asked for the tax to be repealed from January 1, 2024, and not to apply the vacant property tax to properties in the 2023 tax year.

The council ultimately voted 15 to eight in favor of Stiteville Councilor Glen Gower's proposal, which, with the support of Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, kept the tax.

Gower's proposal requires the collection of more data on vacant housing, as well as directing staff to improve the declaration process and make it easier.

“We have to give the tax a chance and collect more statistics before we can correctly assess whether it is working.” Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said. "It's worked in other places like Toronto and Vancouver, and the good news is that Ottawa had a higher filing rate this year when we introduced it than other cities that have implemented it."