FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2026
PRESS RELEASE: Horizon Ottawa Condemns Mayor’s Mandatory Return-to-Office Policy
PRESS RELEASE: Horizon Ottawa Condemns Mayor’s Mandatory Return-to-Office Policy
OTTAWA - Horizon Ottawa is condemning Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s decision to force all City of Ottawa employees back to the office, a move they say will worsen traffic congestion and place an unnecessary burden on workers who are fully capable of performing their jobs remotely.
The decision echoes the federal government’s 2023 mandate requiring federal employees to return to the office three days per week, which immediately created longer commutes and significant delays for drivers and public transit riders. Since then, those impacts have only grown, compounded by service cuts introduced through New Ways to Bus.
“Remote work technology and practices are well-developed and effective,” said Tom Ledgley, Coordinator of Horizon Ottawa. “Numerous studies show that productivity remains strong when people work from home, while workers save both money and time by avoiding costly commutes.”
Ledgley noted that embracing remote and hybrid work models is not only beneficial to employees but also fiscally responsible for the city. “Instead of resisting this evolution of employment, Mayor Sutcliffe should be using his power to take advantage of these changes for our city,” he said. “Work from home means less money needs to be spent on maintaining and expanding major roads to accommodate commuters, and people spending more time in their communities. We could be saving so much money on transportation infrastructure and putting that towards improving neighbourhoods for the people who live there.”
Horizon Ottawa is calling on the Mayor and Council to reconsider this regressive policy and instead embrace modern, sustainable approaches to work that save money, reduce congestion, and improve quality of life for Ottawa residents.
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For Media Inquiries:
Tom Ledgley
[email protected]
613-663-7018
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