Better Ottawa Muni Panel: Councillors Duck and Weave on Return to Office
Sep 26, 2025
This week, the Municipal Panel dives into the chaotic Return to Office debate, highlighting a council vote that puts the city manager in charge of hybrid work rules. They discuss Doug Ford's controversial plan to ban speed cameras, balancing safety with political maneuvering. The new Housing Acceleration Plan raises eyebrows with its focus on developer interests, while the Kanata ClubLink case reveals legal complexities affecting community expectations. Plus, there's a deep dive into the delays troubling the Lansdowne Report amid provincial funding uncertainties.
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City Manager Given Return-To-Office Authority
- Council adopted a replacement motion empowering the city manager to set return-to-office arrangements instead of voting on a strict five-day rule.
- John Willing framed the vote as procedural and empowering the city manager to manage staff-by-staff hybrid arrangements.
RTO Creates Manager-Dependent Uncertainty
- The RTO decision affects only a small portion of staff but creates major uncertainty when managers decide accommodations.
- Joanne Cianello warned the policy is confusing and may leave outcomes dependent on managers' discretion.
Document Hybrid Decisions Clearly
- Expect the return-to-office debate to continue and prepare for intensified union and staff pushback.
- Managers should document hybrid decisions and apply clear criteria to reduce perceptions of favoritism.