The latest Ottawa auditor general's report on OC Transpo is a catalogue of managerial incompetence, raising concerns about whether the appointment of new general manager Rick Leary can fix the systemic issues.
Auditor General's Findings on New Ways to Bus
Auditor General Nathalie Gougeon's report focuses on the city's New Ways to Bus plan, implemented last year. The plan, which promised a more reliable and efficient system, instead delivered what many riders experienced as a failure. The report found the plan was based on outdated data and overly optimistic assumptions about the service level that OC Transpo could provide.
Transit general manager Renée Amilcar had assured riders of improvements, but the result was closer to 'No Ways to Bus.' Conceptually, the plan to adjust bus routes for light rail service and enhance key connections was sound, but execution fell short.
Cost and Service Issues
While service changes eliminated $10 million in costs, the city still spends $419 million on bus service this year, $11 million more than in 2025. Despite rider dissatisfaction, the plan could have been defensible if based on thoughtful policies and realistic assumptions, which it was not.
The auditor general found that OC Transpo lacked a way to assess competing priorities, such as whether the goal was maximum service volume or a smaller, more reliable service. Realistic possibilities, like the delayed arrival of new electric buses and fleet shortages, were not adequately considered.
Outdated Policies and Management Concerns
Basic policy documents outlining service parameters had not been significantly updated since 2005. Standards for acceptable distance from bus service and cost share between riders and taxpayers were grossly outdated. The overall impression is of a lackadaisical approach to management, bolstered by an earlier audit that found management positions filled by candidates who did not meet minimum requirements.
External factors also contributed to the failure. Electric buses ordered by the city did not arrive as expected, forcing reliance on aging diesel buses. Despite known issues with unreliable bus schedules, Transpo lacked enough buses to fix the problem.
LRT Challenges and Broader Impact
The biggest challenge was the litany of problems with Ottawa's new LRT. Staff may have been so preoccupied with LRT issues that they neglected their basic duties on the bus side. The report raises questions about whether the appointment of new general manager Rick Leary is sufficient to address the deep-seated managerial failures.
