Back to work? Off to court

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Good morning!

I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend. I will say it was nice not having to write anything for Monday, it does free up a little extra time. I did, in fact, do some writing, just not of the newsletter kind! Sometimes it’s just nice to be creative.

Today we’ve got a breakdown of what’s going on with the federal government’s back-to-work order. The day of return draws closer and the issue shows no sign of abating.

Let’s dive into today’s newsletter!

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign up for free.

WEATHER REPORT

Wednesday: 26 🌡️ 12 | ☀️

Thursday: 27 🌡️ 13 | ☀️

Friday: 26 🌡️ 16 | 🌤️

EMPLOYMENT

Back to work? Off to court

The ongoing conflict over whether federal employees will be required to return to the office got a little more complicated last week…

What happened: A Federal Court judge ruled against the Treasury Board’s attempt to stop the court challenge, and it will now proceed to a full hearing, according to CTV. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) undertook a legal challenge back in May to force a judicial review of the hybrid work decision. That means it will go towards a full hearing, which will take time. 

• Background: The Treasury Board ordered workers back to the office for three days a week starting this fall. Tens of thousands of them (many I’m sure who read this newsletter) were able to work from home during the pandemic.

The court ruling: The judge ruled that the Attorney General did not provide a “knockout punch” that addressed PSAC’s submission to the courts, according to CBC. The judge noted their decision wasn’t a vote in support of PSAC, but rather that the case should proceed to a full hearing. The federal government had been trying to end the court challenge, saying essentially that courts shouldn’t “intervene in employment disputes before the processes provided for have been exhausted.”

The federal government is pushing the back-to-work order to, they argue, help the government perform better as an organization. Meanwhile, a PSAC survey back in the spring showed that 91% of respondents opposed the government telework mandate. The biggest reasons cited in the survey were increased expenses (91%), commute time (90%) and work-life balance (89%). 

• Yes, but: Some workers accepted contracts during COVID that allowed them to work from home. Now that is being changed on them. 

What comes next: There will likely be no decision before the Sept. 9 deadline. PSAC has told workers they should follow their employer's guidelines, according to CBC, or they may face disciplinary action. 

• Much like normal issues in Ottawa, there may be a rural-urban divide. Back in May, North Grenville mayor Nancy Peckford spoke out against the back-to-work order, with many families moving to the town and away from Ottawa, according to CTV. 

Zoom out: The issue around teleworking isn’t only a federal government issue, but it does, in general, seem to be on the decline. In April 2020, 40% of Canadians worked from home. In January 2022, it was 30% and in November 2023, it was just 20%, according to CTV. Yet that’s still higher than it was before the pandemic, at 7%.

Interesting data: Policy Options analyzed a survey from Shaping the Future of Work in Canada from EKOS Research Associates that looked at different trends around work from home. Highly educated workers were much more likely to work from home and telework was more utilized in smaller organizations. Other interesting data included:

• 69% said they had better job satisfaction when working from home;

• 66% said it improved productivity; and,

• The biggest negatives were team building and socializing with coworkers, with 45% and 54%, respectively, saying it had a negative impact.

What it means: One really interesting thing from the survey above was that people who had better overall life satisfaction were more likely to work from home. This is an ongoing challenge for all employers. In Ottawa, the challenges are compounded by an inconsistent transit system that makes commuting even more of a headache. It’s also a challenge when employers are able to save money by not commuting.

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OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🚘 1,600+: The number of traffic tickets issued over the long weekend in eastern Ontario, with 19 of them given to drivers filming other drivers crashing. [CTV]

👖 2026: The soonest that a business could occupy the former Nordstrom location in Rideau Centre, though there are a few larger retailers interested in the location. [Ottawa Business Journal]

CITY BUILDING

(Members-only) What makes infrastructure projects go wrong? It’s a lot about mindset

Written by Robert Hiltz

So, your city has decided to build a major new bit of infrastructure and things have gone pear shaped. Budgets have skyrocketed and deliverables delayed. Why has it happened? A lot of it has to do with mindset and expectations.

uOttawa Telfer School of Management Prof. Lavagnon Ika explained to the Lookout earlier this month that many major projects lose their way because of “fuzziness.”

“If I'm gonna build a plane, do I have all the components that I need to be able to build the plane and make it work smoothly and fly? That part of complexity, people understand that very well,” he said. 

But fuzziness comes in as a different sort of complexity. 

“There is a much more soft aspect of complexity, which is called in the literature ‘social political complexity.’ It has to do with people. It has to do with the context, the human context in which the project is being brought,” Ika said. “When we speak of fuzzy project, we’re speaking about a project in which the goals themselves, they are elusive — or they evolve over time.”

THE AGENDA

🏫 An 89-page report has many ideas but does not make any recommendations, for major changes to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. Some changes include integrating children with special needs into the classroom and changes to French immersion, such as standardized teaching and how the program is taught. You read more about it here. [Ottawa Citizen]

🌊 Good news for Chelsea. The city was previously asking residents to reduce water consumption as of Aug. 14, but that was lifted on Aug. 30. [Ottawa Citizen]

🍺 The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation is raising concerns about the proximity of schools to convenience stores that now can sell liquor. Meanwhile, cannabis stories cannot operate within 150 metres of a school. [CityNews] 

🏈 In sports news, the RedBlacks were victorious over the weekend against the BC Lions, winning 38-12. The team is now 7-3-1 for the season. [CBC]

🎾 Sadly, the defending tennis U.S. Open champions, comprised of Ottawa’s own Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe did not advance past the quarterfinals. [CBC]

❓ A fence that runs along Constance Bay beach is raising questions about whether waterfront property owners can actually build structures on shorelines. It depends on many factors. One thing owners may not be aware of is that the Crown owns part of some lands below high water levels. [CBC]

🧑‍🚒 Firefighters were called in to help a man who was stuck on a cliff near Alexandra Bridge on Saturday. The rope rescue team managed to safely bring him down. He was issued two warnings for violating the Trespass to Property Act. [CityNews]

👮 Police are asking for help to find a missing 21-year-old from Gatineau who may be in Ottawa. Jessy-James Antoine-Fequet was last seen on Sept. 1, and his family is worried for his health and safety. [CTV]

HOUSE OF THE WEEK

Depending on your taste, you will either love or hate this place.

But what can’t be denied is inside design. The space maximizes natural light, with a German-made kitchen with maple cabinetry, and a professionally landscaped garden, along with three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Of course, a place like this isn’t cheap, as you can see here…

House of The Week is a home selected by the Lookout team and is not a paid advertisement. All ads are labelled as such. If you’re a realtor who wishes to feature your home in our newsletter, please contact our sales team. 

PHOTO OF THE DAY

One Reddit user managed to snag this photo of Chaudière Falls a few days ago. What a great shot!

SPONSORED BY LATIN SPARKS FESTIVAL

Canada’s biggest Latin Fiesta is returning to Ottawa on September 7th!

Immerse yourself in the sizzle and spice of Latin American culture at LeBreton Flats on Saturday, September 7, 2024. 

The Latin Sparks Festival brings live music, dance classes, food trucks, bars, and epic performances to ignite all 5 senses and create a full-day fiesta you’ll never forget! 

Last year, the Latin Sparks Festival welcomed over 5,000 people for its 10th anniversary in Ottawa. This year features an expanded lineup, new food vendors and the first-ever LSF Dance Battle!  Expect to learn the moves, taste authentic foods and dance all night long!

This is an experience enjoyed by those of all ages and abilities. Bring your kids, friends, lovers, parents and grandparents - all are welcome! Children 12 years and under are free to attend - no ticket required.

Get your tickets today!

OTTAWA MUSIC

Slo' Tom, Thursday 8 pm: Blending punk roots with a love for hardcore country music. At Overflow Brewing, 2477 Kaladar Av. Free Show. 

Warpark, Friday 7 pm: US power trio with experimental soundscapes rooted in alternative rock and post-punk. At Live! on Elgin, 220 Elgin Street. Tickets $10.

Liliac, Friday 7 pm: Sibling-powered LA hard rock band known for their raspy vocals and scorching guitar solos. At Brass Monkey, 250 Greenbank Rd. Tickets $32.60.

Sugar Bomb, Saturday 7:30 pm: Pop punk/power pop group of 4 friends from Ottawa/Gatineau who like to get weird. At Cafe Dekcuf, 221 Rideau Street. Tickets $15.

Bayash Sisters, Saturday 7 pm: Folk-pop duo from Ottawa known for their intricate harmonies. At Red Bird, 1165 Bank St. Tickets $33.

Listings are provided by OttawaGigs.ca, the best place to discover live music in Ottawa. Check out Ottawagigs.ca for full listings across the city.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Here’s a handy guide for everything you need to know about alcohol sales in Ottawa corner stores. [CTV]

• It’s almost fall colour season in Ontario! Here are some places near Ottawa you can see them. [CBC]

• Sad news — Top of the World Skateshop is closing after 31 years. [Ottawa Business Journal]

• This interesting video shows how there was a movement back in 1950 to ban shorts in Ottawa. [YouTube] 

• How can AI be integrated more into the classroom? This Ottawa school is leading the way. [CTV]

• Dr. Donald S. Beanlands, renowned cardiologist and co-founder of the University of Ottawa's Heart Institute, died last Thursday. He was 91. [CTV]

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Christie Lake Kids: If you’re artistic, this is for you. The organization is looking for volunteers for their after-school programs. Learn more.

Shepherds of Good Hope: The organization needs help with their meal service programs, including serving food, organizing supplies and cleaning dishes. Learn more.

Odyssey Theatre: If you’re good at volunteer organizing, they need a Voluneer Recruiter leader to help them find more volunteers. You can contact John for more information. 

VHA: If you have experience as a caregiver, they’re looking for people to join their Board of Directors, with meetings every 6-8 weeks. Email Valerie for more info.

OTTAWA GAMES

With summer weather still here, today’s Ottawa Guesser is a beach. But which one? The first five people to reply to this newsletter with the correct answer get their names mentioned in the newsletter.