Insights into the private discussions at Ottawa’s city hall regarding the controversial mandate to return municipal employees to the office full-time have been revealed through emails and text exchanges with the mayor’s office.
Documents obtained by CBC News under a freedom of information request show exchanges between Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and his office from August to September 11, shedding light on the decision-making process surrounding the return-to-office mandate. Some sections of the correspondence were redacted.
The communications disclosed by CBC News demonstrate that there was no external influence from higher levels of government. Instead, key figures within city hall were focused on seeking clarity and coordination as discussions unfolded on potentially canceling the mandate.
Following the provincial government’s directive for public servants to return to the office full-time, Ottawa’s city manager Wendy Stephanson announced a similar requirement for city employees, effective January. The city clarified that the policy change would primarily impact a minority of workers, as the majority had already resumed in-office work.
In response, Councilor Jeff Leiper introduced a motion to reverse the mandate, which was later replaced by Councilor Cathy Curry’s motion expressing support for the city manager’s decision-making authority. Curry’s motion passed with a 15-10 vote, surprising supporters of Leiper’s initial proposal.
This was her decision. Nobody asked her to do it. The provincial government didn’t ask her to do it … I didn’t ask her to do it.– Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe
Prior to the public announcement of Leiper’s motion on September 11, there was an exchange between a staff member from the mayor’s office and Curry via the Signal app. Curry affirmed her opposition to any attempts to rescind the work-in-office order in the exchange, as revealed in documents obtained through the freedom of information request.
In an interview with CBC News, Sutcliffe clarified that the message was not from him but from his deputy chief of staff. He emphasized that such discussions were routine at city hall, whether through verbal exchanges, emails, or texts, to gauge opinions and explore potential improvements or alternative directions.
Sutcliffe stressed that the decision to implement the return-to-office mandate rested solely with Stephanson and was within her jurisdiction.
Councilor Leiper noted that he found nothing irregular in the correspondence, emphasizing that seeking support from fellow councilors was a common practice for any proposed motions.
(Francis Ferland/CBC)
Clarification Requests
Internal documents also highlight some uncertainties regarding the extent of the city manager’s authority in the aftermath of the mandate announcement.
In an email, Councilor Marty Carr sought clarification from the mayor’s director of policy on whether their previous statements, indicating that the City Council lacked the authority to reverse the decision, were accurate.
Following Carr’s inquiry, an exchange ensued between the mayor’s office and the city clerk’s office to address Stephanson’s authority in light of Leiper’s upcoming motion.
Carr, who later supported Curry’s motion, emphasized the importance of clarifying these details, particularly in response to concerns raised by residents.
Leiper