I want to congratulate the City of Ottawa and the Ontario government for their recent return-to-office mandates.
Further to this, I call upon the federal government to provide transparency on its accommodation strategy. This “transparency” is not simply to proclaim on how many days an employee must be in the office, but rather a three-dimensional strategy in which there is a plan to foster the potential of all employees. So far, I see no plan, nor do I sense there is an ability to accommodate a plan based on the current state of the federal government’s real estate.
Specifically, I am calling for the federal government to implement flexible work models that prioritize in-person collaboration, and align federal workplace policies with global trends to avoid stifling local economic growth.
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The pendulum is swinging back. After years of remote work dominating the conversation, the tide is turning toward a renewed embrace of office-centric culture. Across North America, tech giants and traditional industries alike are recalibrating their workplace strategies, recognizing that collaboration, innovation and community are best fostered in person. Yet here in Ottawa, we remain stubbornly resistant — held back not by data or economic rationale, but seemingly by individual preference and political inertia.
This resistance is not without consequence. Ottawa’s unique position as the seat of the federal government has created a culture where remote work is not just accepted, it’s entrenched. But while the federal government drags its feet, the private sector, particularly tech, is beginning to feel the strain. The 2025 CBRE Scoring Tech Talent Report reveals that Ottawa has dropped out of the top 10 tech talent markets in North America, falling to 11th place — this is a continued fall from eighth place in 2022. This decline is more than symbolic — it reflects a slowing momentum in job growth and innovation.
Between 2021 and 2024, Ottawa’s tech labour force grew by just 13.2 per cent, adding 11,000 jobs. Compare that to Calgary’s staggering 61 per cent growth or Waterloo Region’s 58 per cent surge. These cities are not just growing, they’re attracting investment, talent and attention. Meanwhile, Ottawa, despite having the highest concentration of tech talent in North America at 12 per cent of its workforce, is struggling to convert that density into dynamism.
In a recent LinkedIn post, I highlighted how some tech companies have actively debated the viability of Ottawa as a base. The city’s remote-first culture is increasingly at odds with global trends. Major players like Amazon, Meta and even Zoom have reversed course, mandating in-office attendance several days a week. The message is clear: innovation thrives in proximity. Ottawa’s reluctance to follow suit risks making us an outlier — and not in a good way. Simply put, when tech is looking to expand, many consider “office culture” to be a benefit.
The implications go beyond the tech sector. Consider the recent sidewalk debate in Manor Park. Despite clear opportunities to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility, vocal opposition led to the deferral of sidewalk construction on several streets. The rationale? Preserving “neighbourhood character” and avoiding “unnecessary” infrastructure.
This episode is emblematic of a broader issue: Ottawa’s resistance to change, even when that change is rooted in long-term benefit. If we can’t build sidewalks in a growing urban neighbourhood, how will we adapt our infrastructure to support a hybrid or remote-work future? It seems incongruent that we want to work from home but don’t want to invest in the required supportive infrastructure. I recognize this is one example, but it gives one pause for thought.
The truth is a return-to-office isn’t just about productivity, it’s about city-building. Office-centric environments drive foot traffic (urban and suburban), support local businesses and foster vibrant downtown cores. They create demand for transit, housing and public spaces. Remote work, while offering flexibility, risks hollowing out our urban fabric. It discourages investment, weakens community ties and undermines the very infrastructure we need to thrive.
Ottawa has always been a city of potential. We have world-class universities, a robust tech ecosystem and a rich cultural heritage. But potential alone isn’t enough. We need to align our policies with the realities of a post-pandemic world. That means recognizing that remote work, while valuable, cannot be the default. It must be balanced with a commitment to in-person collaboration and civic engagement.
This isn’t a call to abandon flexibility. Hybrid models can and should exist. But we must stop pretending that remote work is a panacea. The current agenda — advanced through personal opinion and political desire — lacks the nuance and foresight our city deserves. It’s time for a reset.
The journey of workplace evolution will continue. We will experiment, adapt and refine. But right now, Ottawa stands at a crossroads. Will we embrace the return-to-office as a catalyst for growth, or will we cling to a remote-first mindset that isolates us from the global conversation?
The choice is ours. And the stakes are higher than we think.
Shawn Hamilton is a principal at Proveras Commercial Realty.
