Mayoral candidates in Ottawa are expressing their views on return-to-office mandates, with one contender pledging to restore the flexibility seen during the pandemic for city employees. Jeff Leiper, who opposed the city’s five-day in-office policy, announced plans to reverse it and challenge the federal government’s four-day mandate. He emphasized the importance of time, money, and quality of life, citing commute hours and crowded public transportation as concerns.
If elected mayor, Leiper aims to provide maximum flexibility for municipal workers, allowing them to work from home where feasible without compromising public services. He suggested the possibility of some employees working remotely five days a week. The city’s previous office policy mandated five days in-office, affecting a minority of employees as most are frontline workers already present at city facilities or in the field full time.
Leiper criticized incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe for supporting the federal return-to-office policy, stating it shouldn’t dictate downtown Ottawa’s vitality. He highlighted the city’s transportation infrastructure limitations under the new federal mandate. Another mayoral candidate, Alex Lawson, supported Leiper’s stance and expressed concerns about the impact of the federal policy on downtown areas.
Sutcliffe defended the city’s five-day office policy, stating it allowed flexibility and reasonable accommodations. He emphasized that human resource decisions were under the city manager’s purview, not the city council’s. Neil Saravanamuttoo echoed Leiper’s proposal for city employees to work remotely if feasible. He raised concerns about the federal government’s plans due to their larger workforce and potential impact on transportation.
Leiper proposed collaborating with the federal government to establish more shared workspaces in Ottawa’s suburbs to reduce commuting distances. Lawson shared a similar commitment to open satellite offices for federal workers using city resources. The candidates have differing stances on office policies, emphasizing the need for flexibility, productivity, and the city’s readiness for potential changes.
Image sources: Arthur White-Crummey/CBC, Francis Ferland/CBC
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