Updated: Fri Nov. 12 2010 12:28:35 PM
ctvottawa.ca

The National Capital Commission is planning an aggressive campaign early next year to sell the capital to Canadians who feel Ottawa is a remote and unfamiliar place.

NCC Chair Marie Lemay laid out the plan Friday, saying more needs to be done to build tourism and convince Canadians the capital belongs to them.

"We are making sure that we will have the engagement of Canadians. We want them to feel that they're contributing to the future of their capital, we want them to care about their capital region and we want them, by the same token, to be aware and know and want to spend time in their capital," Lemay said at the Eggs N 'Icons breakfast hosted by the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce.

Lemay also wants to extend Canada Day celebrations by keeping the stage up on Parliament Hill for more programming after July 1.