News of the day: Inside the desk space debacle at the public service pay centre; OC Transpo new ways to bus based on ‘outdated, inaccurate’ data; City hall outsider wants to be Ottawa’s new mayor

News Room
By News Room 2 Min Read

It’s Wednesday, June 17. Here are the top stories from the Ottawa Citizen newsroom today.

RETURN-TO-OFFICE ‘UNACHIEVABLE’: INSIDE THE DESK SPACE DEBACLE AT THE PUBLIC SERVICE PAY CENTRE

After giving up three New Brunswick office leases during the pandemic, the government has delayed return-to-office mandates for hundreds of public servants as desk space in the region falls “dramatically short.”

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 A new audit says the transit agency’s reorganization of bus routes was based on data years out of date.

OC TRANSPO NEW WAYS TO BUS BASED ON ‘OUTDATED, INACCURATE’ DATA, AUDIT FINDS

The massive route overhaul that rolled out in April 2025 was “mainly driven by budget considerations,” the audit found.

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 Ottawa mayoral candidate Alex Lawson.

ALEX LAWSON IS A CITY HALL OUTSIDER WHO WANTS TO BE OTTAWA’S NEW MAYOR

Lawson is a homebuilder and political newcomer, who says Ottawa’s 2026 municipal election will be about quality of life in the city.

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 Art House Cafe on Somerset Street regularly hosts concerts and community events, and showcases the work of local artists.

AI EVENT AT ART HOUSE CAFE CANCELLED AFTER COMMUNITY BACKLASH

Artists and customers protested the AI meetup at the café originally scheduled for June 13.

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 Alex Formenton arrives at the courthouse in London, Ont., for the start of his trial in 2025. Formenton was one of five members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior hockey team charged with sexual assault and later acquitted.

SENATORS CUT TIES WITH ALEX FORMENTON, MAKING WINGER AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT

Formenton was one of five members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior hockey team charged with sexual assault and later acquitted.

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