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John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · 7d

I get it hearing from the public both pro or con of the idea takes up time with councillors and staff but democracy and transperancy needs to work

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John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · 7d

the Transit Committee with the motion #ottpoli

John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · 7d

City Council passed a motion to negotiate with Metrolinx to take over Ottawa LRT as a Doug Ford election promise. This is what the city is negotiationing with
"The project is at least $1 billion over budget and was scheduled to open in 2020" Englinton LRT. City of Ottawa as well is even bypassed

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John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · 15d

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John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · 17d

@bluejays.com

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Reposted by John Redins

Amanda Pfeffer @amanda-pfeffer.bsky.social · 20d

Friday, You weigh in on the decision by Doug Ford to table legislation that would ban photo radar in the province. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Ford government says it will ban speed cameras across Ontario | CBC News

Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the traffic enforcement tool a "cash grab" at a news conference in Vaughan Thursday. He said his government will introduce new legislation to ban speed cameras.

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by John Redins

Amanda Pfeffer @amanda-pfeffer.bsky.social · 20d

Hear your stories in our reality check on Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program. Is too easy to access? You can hear your stories on the Ontario Today pod here: www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

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Reposted by John Redins

Glen Gower @glengower.ca · 23d

Well look at that... Ottawa's City Manager just sent out a "Clarification on In-Office Standard and Flexibility in Alternative Work Arrangements" via email to Councillors and senior staff.

In short: hybrid work will very much continue after January 1.

I have received several inquiries from Councillors which reinforce that there has been confusion regarding the August 26, 2025, memo on the City’s five-day in-office standard effective January 1, 2026. I am including all of Council in my response to provide greater clarify on this important matter.

To be clear, I can assure you and all Members of Council that there will be continued flexibility and manager discretion when considering alternative work arrangement requests, including requests for hybrid work arrangements, based on the nature of the position, service delivery and operational requirements, and available dedicated and hoteling workspace. We all recognize that circumstances can occur where an employee will be able to work most productively at home and the service they provide to the public will not be impacted.

Further, the Alternative Work Arrangements Policy and its supporting procedures remain unchanged with the standard. This continues to empower managers, in consultation with their teams and individual employees, to consider alternative work arrangement requests in accordance with the Policy, applicable procedures, and any applicable collective agreement provisions or terms and conditions of employment.

This approach is intended to ensure the short- and long-term health and success of the organization. A more consistent and regular on-site presence is critical to help strengthen relationships, reinforce team norms, support formal systems and processes, facilitate ongoing knowledge transfer between leaders and employees, support mentorship and succession planning, protect the integrity of our corporate memory, build confidence in the City’s ability to deliver service excellence, and ultimately strengthen public trust.

As part of my outreach efforts over the past year, I have heard from Members of Council and community partners that we must continue to find ways to work more effectively, increase overall responsiveness and strengthen trust and transparency. This includes more in-person availability. As well, many employees have shared that we need to provide more opportunities for in-person interactions to help strengthen relationships, share knowledge and foster a sense of connection and belonging within the organization.

However, it is important to clarify that this approach means maximizing the use of our current spaces and demonstrating a consistent employee presence within our administrative facilities over the standard five-day work week. This approach was informed through the senior leadership structure to approach alternative work arrangement requests in the post-pandemic era. Consideration of factors such as operational requirements, organizational capacity, and individual circumstances (such as accommodating child care needs) to the work deployment framework will invariably result in opportunities for employees and/or teams operating on a schedule of fewer than five days in-office in accordance with the Alternative Work Arrangements Policy and its associated procedures, as amended from time to time.

The City’s goal remains to deliver excellent service to residents. Arrangements will be put in place where it makes sense from a productivity and service delivery perspective and will reflect the mix of work we do in City facilities, at client department locations, remotely in the community and from personal residences, where appropriate.

The senior leadership team remains committed to listening to all employee feedback and working with the Human Resources team to develop all the resources and supports necessary to facilitate a smooth transition in January.

Thank you for reaching out directly with your questions. I am sorry that our communications to-date on this issue have not been as clear as perhaps they could have been. To rectify this, I will be extending an invitation to meet with union officials and will be issuing another round of communications to management and staff to ensure that staff and managers have a clearer understanding of what has shifted and what supports remain for staff to access hybrid work should they need to, and to ensure that our work culture and in-person mentoring achieves the goals of serving residents better and preparing us for future sustainability.

Wendy

Wendy Stephanson CPA, CMRP
She, her, elle
City Manager | Directrice municipale
City of Ottawa | Ville d’Ottawa

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John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · 28d

Few weeks ago I was interviewed by CBC Ottawa about the new Canadian Disability Benefit. I am quoted in the first part of this interview #cdnpoli
youtube.com/watch?v=XLyh...

Rabia Khedr - CBC Ottawa Morning August 26, 2025

YouTube video by Disability Without Poverty

youtube.com

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Reposted by John Redins

Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · Sep 13

Hey Ottawa people! We’re doing a virtual talk on Tuesday (September 16) with @otttransitriders.bsky.social for their Annual General Meeting.

Join us to talk about urbanism, transit advocacy, and the Ottawa context.

Their AGM is in person in Sandy Hill and streamed online.

Let's Talk Transit!
September 16 2025, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Ottawa Transit Riders with Oh The Urbanity!
OTTAWA
TRANSIT RIDERS
LES USAGES DU TRANSPORT
EN CEMMUN D'OTTAWA
Oh The Urbanity!
Sandy Hill Community Centre, 250 Somerset St E
Preschool Room - accessible by ramp/elevator
Online with closed captioning

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Reposted by John Redins

Ottawa Transit Riders 🇨🇦🍁 @otttransitriders.bsky.social · Sep 11

The #WeekWithoutDriving is coming to Ottawa Sep 29 - Oct 5. For drivers, it's a chance to experience other mobility modes. For those who take #octranspo, #ottbike or #ottwalk, it's time to advocate for easier, more reliable and more enjoyable travel.

More: bikeottawa.ca/2025/09/04/j...

Image tile for the week without driving, including logos for Bike Ottawa, For Our Kids, Strong Towns Ottawa, Ottawa Transit Riders and Ecology Ottawa

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Reposted by John Redins

KGE hockey fan 🇨🇦🍁 @kbyrd.bsky.social · Sep 10

As always, @samhersh01.bsky.social is blunt. This city could be so much better, especially on issues like transit. @otttransitriders.bsky.social ottawacitizen.com/opinion/hers...

Hersh: The mayor has made our public transit mess even worse

OC Transpo riders are suffering the consequences of a growing budget hole, writes Sam Hersh.

ottawacitizen.com

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Reposted by John Redins

OC Transpo Helps @helps.octranspo.com · Sep 9

Routes 6, 40, 43, 90, 92, 98, 105, 116, 197 will detour due to Hunt Club Road paving work (Bank to Airport) on select dates only, between September 10 and 30, 8 pm to 5:30 am. www.octranspo.com/en...

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John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · Sep 4

#TBT Going through some of my mother's stuff and found this

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John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · Sep 3

Numbers as it may compromise trade secrets, or to scrutinize the amounts being negotiated with subcontractors constructing the LRT extension during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in light of a labour dispute involving some of the contractors during that time? #ottpoli #ottnews

www.cbc.ca

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John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · Sep 3

A former city councillor advised me that I can be brutally honest at times. Do city councillors possess the fortitude to challenge administration on a vote regarding the cost of R1 service to the city each time a train experiences difficulties, given that city staff claim they cannot release the

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John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · Sep 1

@ottawalabour.bsky.social parade and picnic afterwards downtown Ottawa

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John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · Sep 1

My friend from Northern Aliens wanted to wish everyone a happy Labour Day

Reposted by John Redins

Glen Gower @glengower.ca · Aug 30

Encouraging news... and on Labour Day weekend, no less!

CTV News Ottawa @ctvnewsottawa.bsky.social · Aug 30

Transit union reaches tentative agreement with OC Transpo

The union representing drivers, mechanics and other frontline staff at OC Transpo says it has reached a tentative agreement with the employer after 21 days of bargaining.

bit.ly

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Reposted by John Redins

mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social · Aug 30

I'm very pleased that a tentative agreement has been reached with ATU 279. Our OC Transpo employees have been doing great work to overcome past challenges and build a better public transit system for the whole community.

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Reposted by John Redins

CTV News Ottawa @ctvnewsottawa.bsky.social · Aug 30

Transit union reaches tentative agreement with OC Transpo

The union representing drivers, mechanics and other frontline staff at OC Transpo says it has reached a tentative agreement with the employer after 21 days of bargaining.

bit.ly

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John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · Aug 30

@cineplexmovies.bsky.social in Ontario is having $5 admission and $5 small popcorn today and tomorrow

John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · Aug 27

That is what they were hoping for last year "Winning the lottery".

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John Redins @johnredins.bsky.social · Aug 27

The order of the new fleet of buses that the 6 metre buses can't fit a walker a electric wheelchair and a scooter on the bus. As a result the scooter had to stay behind until the next available bus was available. The wheelchair was oversized #ottpoli

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