Emails and written exchanges between the mayor’s office in Ottawa shed light on the private discussions held at city hall regarding the controversial directive to have municipal employees return to the office every weekday. CBC News obtained these communications through a freedom of information request, revealing correspondence involving Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and his team from August to September 11 concerning the return-to-office policy. Some sections of the documents were redacted.
The obtained communications do not show any external influence, demonstrating how city hall officials sought clarification and coordination internally as a motion to rescind the mandate was put forward. Shortly after the provincial government declared its intention to compel public servants to resume full-time office work, Ottawa’s city manager Wendy Stephanson announced a similar requirement for city employees starting in January. The city clarified that this change would impact only a minority of the workforce as most employees had already returned to the office.
In response to the mandate, Councilor Jeff Leiper proposed a motion to reverse it, which was later substituted by Councilor Cathy Curry’s motion showing support for the city manager’s decision-making authority. The council approved Curry’s revised motion with a 15-10 vote, surprising supporters of Leiper’s original proposal. Two days before Leiper made his motion public, an exchange occurred between a member of the mayor’s office and Curry via the Signal app.
Mayor Sutcliffe emphasized that the decision to implement the return-to-office policy rested solely with Stephanson and was not influenced by external parties. Councilor Leiper also noted that the correspondence between officials was standard practice to garner support for proposed motions. Internal documents highlighted some confusion regarding the extent of the city manager’s authority following the mandate announcement. Councilor Marty Carr sought clarification on the council’s role in reversing the decision, eventually receiving guidance from the city clerk’s office.
Overall, the discussions emphasized the importance of clarifying details to address public concerns and ensure compliance with regulations. The documents also revealed efforts by city officials to provide clarity on how the mandate would impact different departments within the organization.
