Mayoral candidate Leiper pledges to overturn city's five-day office mandate if elected
Leiper said he would push for maximum workplace flexibility for municipal employees and challenge the federal government's return-to-office policy affecting Ottawa's transit system.
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Mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper promised to reverse the City of Ottawa's five-day return-to-office mandate and pressure the federal government to reconsider its own workplace policy if he wins the election.
At a campaign announcement at Parliament Station on Monday, August 24, Leiper said his proposal would give municipal employees "maximum" flexibility to choose working arrangements that benefit their families, subject to operational requirements.
"If workers can, we want them to be able to work from home," Leiper said. He also pledged to call on the federal government to base its workplace decisions on "operational needs, employee performance, and the services Canadians deserve," framing the issue as affecting not just employees but Ottawa's transit system, which relies on downtown ridership.
Last August, city manager Wendy Stephanson issued the five-day return-to-office mandate effective January 1, 2026. According to a memo issued by the city manager, approximately 85 per cent of municipal public servants are already working in-office. Stephanson has since described the mandate as a starting point, noting that flexibility and manager discretion would be maintained, and said the city's approach is based on "ultimate flexibility between employer and employees."
Leiper previously introduced a council motion calling on Stephanson to rescind the five-day standard, but council voted to reaffirm her authority on the issue. Leiper placed blame on Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who voted yes on that motion. "The buck stops here," Leiper said, arguing that as mayor he would have the obligation to ensure city policy serves residents and workers.
In response, the Sutcliffe campaign said the management of municipal employees is the city manager's responsibility, not the mayor's. "Playing politics with human resources is counterproductive and performative," the statement read, noting that the city's current policy already provides flexibility for alternative arrangements. Mayoral candidate Alex Lawson said he agreed with Leiper's position, which his own campaign announced earlier in August.
What was the vote count when council reaffirmed the city manager's authority on the office mandate?
What specific rationale did city manager Stephanson provide for the five-day standard when she issued it?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What is Jeff Leiper's position on Ottawa's office mandate?
Jeff Leiper pledged to reverse the City of Ottawa's five-day return-to-office mandate if elected, offering municipal employees maximum flexibility to work from home subject to operational requirements.
When did Ottawa's five-day office mandate take effect?
The City of Ottawa's five-day return-to-office mandate became effective on January 1, 2026.
What percentage of Ottawa's municipal employees already work in-office?
Approximately 85 per cent of Ottawa's municipal public servants were already working in-office according to the city manager's memo.
What other mayoral candidate supports Leiper's position on the office mandate?
Mayoral candidate Alex Lawson agreed with Leiper's position, which his campaign announced earlier in August 2026.
