Transit, parking, safety: three mayoral candidates weigh in on what Ottawa’s downtown core needs to thrive

For decades, downtown Ottawa was built around a predictable rhythm: tens of thousands of workers poured into the core each weekday morning, filling office towers and supporting the restaurants, cafés and shops below. 

The federal public service provided a particularly reliable stream of workers — and customers — in a downtown economy that became unusually dependent on what happened inside government offices. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted that model almost overnight.

More than six years later, downtown Ottawa is still trying to figure out what comes next.

In the months and years following the pandemic, there was considerable discussion about what a downtown less dependent on office workers could look like. With federal buildings sitting largely empty and remote work appearing to be here to stay, the focus shifted toward bringing more people to live in the core, converting empty offices into housing and finding new ways to draw people downtown for restaurants, nightlife, festivals and cultural events.

But the office worker never disappeared quite as permanently as once expected.

Federal return-to-office mandates have gradually increased, with hybrid employees now generally expected to work in-person four days a week. The change is expected to bring thousands more commuters downtown this fall, and some federal departments have reported challenges finding enough space for returning workers.

Still, it has not been enough to restore the downtown core in a way that benefits all.

Office vacancies remain higher than before the pandemic, while restaurants and businesses continue to grapple with changing patterns of foot traffic. Homelessness, mental health and addiction crises, and concerns about public safety have also become increasingly visible, particularly in and around the ByWard Market.

At the same time, Ottawa has spent years planning for a downtown that is less dependent on office workers. Offices are being converted into apartments, thousands of new homes are planned, and the city is investing in public spaces, festivals and cultural attractions intended to bring people into the core beyond the traditional nine-to-five.

That leaves Ottawa in a somewhat unusual position. Office workers are returning at the same time the city is trying to move beyond an economy built around them. And with Ottawa heading toward a municipal election this fall, decisions about what downtown should become are increasingly part of the race for mayor.

Incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and major challengers Jeff Leiper and Neil Saravanamuttoo all agree on the broad challenge that downtown needs more residents, better transit, and a stronger response to housing and homelessness. Where they differ is how to get there — and what City Hall should prioritize.

Mayoral candidate Alex Lawson was also invited to participate in this article, but declined.