Hundreds of people across the capital are bracing for the looming cuts to the federal bureaucracy expected to come in Thursday's federal budget.
Reports say the budget might cut up to 30,000 jobs in the public service. Most of the cuts would affect jobs in Ottawa.
"There is a big, big deficit and the question is how do they balance cuts with the economy?" said CTV Ottawa's Graham Richardson. "Today is the day we see some kind of detail."
The anxiety over the budget has big-ticket item retailers in the capital worried about the economic impact of the job cuts.
"It's definitely going to affect our business," said Michel Parent of Bel-Air Lexus Toyota. "Every time there is an election or a budget comes down in the city, everyone goes into their mode of being careful."
Some real estate agents also say the cuts could be devastating to the housing market.
Still, while many are worried, there are signs of economic confidence in the capital.
Marshall's, the popular American discount store, is set to open a new location at Ottawa's Train Yards shopping centre Thursday, the same day as the federal budget will be released.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem
