Ottawa Board of Trade: Mandatory Return-to-Office Will Boost Downtown Economy
The Ottawa Board of Trade has expressed strong support for the federal government's recent directive requiring most public servants to return to office four days per week, stating this policy will significantly benefit downtown businesses that have struggled with reduced foot traffic since the pandemic began.
Federal Directive Brings Hope to Struggling Businesses
According to the announcement made Thursday, most federal public servants will be required to work from the office four days weekly starting in July, while executives will return full-time beginning in May. This represents a substantial increase in office presence for many government workers who have been operating primarily remotely since COVID-19 restrictions were implemented.
Sueling Ching, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade, emphasized the positive impact this will have on the downtown core. "There's no question that it will be good for the downtown to have more foot traffic — there's no question about that," Ching stated, highlighting how the additional day in the office each week should bring a noticeable influx of customers to small businesses throughout the city center.
Pandemic Impact on Downtown Commerce
Ching explained that to understand the potential benefits of this policy, one should consider what happened when federal workers were sent home during the pandemic. "Businesses closed. Businesses accumulated massive amounts of debt," she noted. "Some of these businesses only opened because there was a built-in market there, right?"
This perspective is echoed by downtown business owners who have experienced firsthand the economic challenges of reduced government worker presence. Yoav Dvaja, owner of the Bank Street bakery Bread & Sons, which has operated for over twenty years, described the pandemic period as particularly difficult for downtown commerce.
"Everybody is struggling right now," Dvaja revealed. "I think most businesses lost about, I don't know, 50 per cent of their business compared to before COVID." While he acknowledged that business numbers have been slowly increasing, Dvaja confirmed they have never fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
Mixed Reactions and Cautious Optimism
In the ByWard Market area, Nicolas Bonnet, sales and marketing director at Le Moulin de Provence, reported similar challenges for bars, restaurants, and local artisans. Bonnet expressed gratitude for any policy that brings government workers downtown more frequently, suggesting it could provide crucial support for businesses that have been barely surviving.
"We're obviously grateful for them to be coming back downtown and supporting the communities, supporting the restaurants, the local shops, cafes," Bonnet said, adding that the increased foot traffic could give hope to "some people that have been holding on."
Marco Distefano, owner of Italian sandwich shop Paninaro, represents newer businesses in the downtown core. Having opened his first location in Chinatown in 2023 and expanding to a second spot near Parliament Hill on O'Connor Street last September, Distefano's experience reflects both the challenges and opportunities of operating in a post-pandemic downtown environment.
Not a Complete Solution
Despite the generally positive reception from the business community, Ching cautioned that a return-to-office mandate alone is not a "silver bullet" solution to all the challenges facing downtown Ottawa. She emphasized that while increased foot traffic will certainly help, broader economic strategies and continued support will be necessary to ensure downtown's full recovery and long-term vitality.
The Ottawa Board of Trade's endorsement of the federal policy reflects a broader recognition within the business community that government worker presence represents a significant economic driver for the city's core. As the July implementation date approaches, downtown businesses are preparing for what they hope will be a sustained increase in customer traffic and economic activity.
