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Feb. 6, 2025

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9 janvier 2025


 

REAL ESTATE LISTINGS

 

 


Upcoming events


TAPROOM 260 presents Johnny Franco live and in concert at 260 Centrum Blvd. in the Centrum Plaza starting at 8 p.m. For more information visit facebook.com/Taproom260/events/.

TAPROOM 260 presents Groove Night live and in concert at 260 Centrum Blvd. in the Centrum Plaza starting at 8 p.m. For more information visit facebook.com/Taproom260/events/.

FÊTE FRISSONS 2025 – This free event at the Shenkman Arts Centre is open to all with live performances, art-making, workshops, storytelling and more. Activities run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with food vendors from Queensview Cafe, Maverick’s Donuts and Yaari Restaurant.

OYSTER NIGHT at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. from 6 to10 p.m. Indulge in the finest oysters and unwind with a drink in hand. We also offer wine and ciders for the non beer lovers.

DANCE YOUR HEART OUT VALENTINE’S DANCE AND FUNDRAISER from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Venvi Portobello Retirement Living, 691 Valin St. in Orléans. All are welcome.

TAPROOM 260 presents Ryan MacIntyre live and in concert at 260 Centrum Blvd. in the Centrum Plaza starting at 8 p.m. For more information visit facebook.com/Taproom260/events/.

 

 


EDITORIAL: A fine mess

By Fred Sherwin
May 23, 2024

The debate over whether or not public servants in Ottawa should be allowed to work from home has raised its ugly head again after Treasury Board recently announced that federal employees would have to spend three days a week commuting to work starting in September. Until now, they’ve only been required to report to work two days a week.

Not surprisingly, the directive is being fought tooth and nail by the Public Service Alliance of Canada which represents tens of thousands of federal workers who are upset at the idea of having to spend an extra day at work every week.

While the debate may seem pretty black and white to most observers, it’s actually much more complicated than that. First of all, federal workers should realize that if it wasn’t for the pandemic, they would still be going into work five days a week and not two or three.

The issue came to a head during collective bargaining negotiations between PSAC and the federal government last spring. At the time, the two sides signed a letter of agreement outside the collective agreement which stipulated a hybrid remote work model in which workers needed to spend a minimum of two days a week in the office.

The Treasury Board’s decision to increase the in-office requirement to three days was made unilaterally, which has the unions and their members up in arms. But that seems to be the federal government’s modus operandi. After all, they made the decision to allow federal employees to work from home two days a week unilaterally. No one with the Treasury Board bothered to inform the City of Ottawa about the move – the same City of Ottawa that invested billions of dollars in an LRT system that was designed to transport thousands of federal civil servants to and from work every day. Nor did they inform the City of Ottawa about their plans to reduce their downtown office portfolio by 50 per cent over the next 10 years.

I can perfectly understand why federal employees want to work from home as much as possible. It means spending less money on commuting and more time with their families. Less money on bus passes, less money on gas, less money on parking and less money on anything else they would normally spend money on downtown if they worked there. And while it makes sense from a quality of life and environmental aspect, it hurts those downtown businesses which used to depend on federal workers, and it has a massive impact on future LRT revenues.

Ordinarily I would argue that federal workers be compelled to work downtown three days a week, but the genie has already been let out of the bottle. What the federal government needs to do is sit down with the City of Ottawa and work out a plan that transforms downtown into a community where people can live, work and play and not let it turn into a ghost town which it is quickly becoming.

 

Entertainment

  Sports


Singing city councillor, Matt Luloff, releases latest EP

Orléans author publishes first fictional novel, The Spanish Note

Ottawa School of Theatre all ages production of Treasure Island was wonderfully entertaining


U16 Panthers win NCAFA A-Cup championship in wild finish

U14 Panthers tame Bel-Air Lions to win NCAFA A-Cup final

U12 Panthers complete undefeated season with A-Cup city championship

 

Commons Corner


 

Queen's Park Corner


 

Local business

  Opinion

 


DYNAMIC FOOT CARE CLINIC: The first step to pain free feet

 

LOUISE CARDINAL CONCEPT: Interior design consultant

 

BLACKBURN SHOPPES DENTAL CENTRE: Committed to providing a positive dental experience

 

 

 


VIEWPOINT: When it comes to public transit, Canada is a third world country

 


Vanxiety_life #15: Navan’s vanlifers complete cross-Canada odyssey

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E-mail: info@orleansstar.ca

 

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