Visits to downtown Ottawa by workers and visitors are less than half of pre-pandemic levels, as a new study shows the capital lags behind a majority of North American cities in downtown economic recovery.out of 62 North American cities for downtown recovery, and fifth out of 10 Canadian cities, trailing Halifax, London, Ont., Quebec City and Edmonton.
It found the level of cellphone activity measured in downtown Ottawa between March and May was only 48 per cent of the pre-pandemic levels. The level of cell activity measured in downtown Toronto was 46 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, compared to 43 per cent in Vancouver, 44 per cent in Montreal and 51 per cent in Edmonton.
The report showing the economic recovery in downtown Ottawa lagging behind most cities in North America comes as the federal government introduces a "hybrid" working model for tens of thousands of public servants, and some companies continue to allow their employees to work from home.
Wellington Street is closed, even the fireworks had to move to Lebreton Flats. Sparks St is a ghosts town. Parking in Byward Market is terrible bad. Mayor and councilors counting down to their retirement pay outs. Public servants taking advantage of Covid working from home.
Maybe because people can’t get there due to the fiasco that is OC Transpo!
Ottawa is crap, it's transit sucks, there's absolutely nothing to do other than look at parliament, DT is nothing but abandoned government buildings, no entertainment other than getting wasted then harrased in the market. Meh, id choose montreal before Ottawa
Justin's federal government breaking records every day and way 👏
Our city was held captive by RWNJs for weeks. CTV have been a conservative media outlet since Mulroney. Journalism in Canada is failing democracy. EvanLSolomon
Is anybody here surprised? For almost a year and a half, we had some of the harshest lockdowns in the world. Mix in some travel restrictions, sprinkle in some ArriveCAN, and you’ve got a fun little recipe for disaster. Nevermind our airports being a total disaster…
A most unwelcoming downtown for sure.
Perhaps at least in part the result of construction works? Downtown Ottawa is one of my favorite spot for urban photography and its beautiful from my angle.
We are leaving the downtown to centretown residents. We are not welcome so we will spend our $$$ closer to home.
The days of suburbanites going downtown to restaurants are over. The suburbs have as good or better restaurants. Add to that, the downtown being super hostile to vehicle traffic. The downtown slump is permanent.
Our downtown is dirt!
I'm interested this.
No one wants to visit communist country s
No shit , Ottawa never fixed the outstanding bum problem ! When your main attraction ( Byward market , rideau and downtown ) is full of bums, shootings, crimes, and police are on catch and release duty, who wants to come to Ottawa ?
And you are surprised? Residents outside the centre core are not welcome. We will spend our $$$ closer to home.
You reap what you sow. Ottawa citizens made it clear they don’t want outsiders.
Maybe people don’t feel welcome there anymore…
Blame the truckers
Ottawa gestapo and it’s commie politicians have made Ottawa an unwelcoming place to be. Why would anyone want to bring their family to a masked up, snobby, covid hysteria hellhole. We can go elsewhere that’s more welcoming.
nothing to bring the people here. Night life is for shut 0 attractions parliament closed. Why would anyone come here when they could drive 2 hours and go to Mtl
The downtown area is not attractive. There's too many homeless individuals, drugs and crimes.
Pandemic, Convoy, cancelled school trips, work from home, little Fed employee travel, no conventions, Byward became kitch /trendy instead of Market. Early closing - it's not one thing. I love Ottawa, but it lacks a lot these days.
A family member visiting asked me what happened to the Byward market and Sparks St in the past few years- depressing and unrecognizable now. So basically it's different and not in a good way.
LeslieMaggie I am not spending a lot of money to visit Ottawa even though I want to go, because of The FreedumTruckers/anti-vaxxers/MAGATS that desecrate the Tomb of the unknown Soldier and behave like animals. I can be honked at at home by a bunch of losers and have the police do nothing.
Part of the problem is local politicians focus only on the healthy younger generations that live downtown. A significant portion of Otawans are disabled and/or elderly. They need cars & convenient parking but that is disappearing. Design downtown for all. cmckenney
Ya 1 lrt is unreliable
Used to be one of the places to take family from out of town or just an afternoon of wandering. Now no way. Byward Market used to be busy with vendors selling fruits and vegetables. Now barely half on the street. Forget about being there at night. If your driving have a dashcam.
Not surprising after what happened with the Trucker convoy
It doesn't help that they moved Rib Fest from Sparks St to the plaza in front of City Hall.
Most federal employees are still working from home. Also the exploding number of addicts unmanaged mental health, and panhandlers isn’t making it very inviting
Surely this does’t surprise anyone? Since the police refuse to protect people from the terrorist FreeDumbers we are going to go elsewhere. OttawaON canpoli
There's absolutely no reason to set foot in downtown, if you've lived in Ottawa more than a year or so.
Does that include Freedumb fighters?
Not much to entice people there TBH. Just got back from Montreal 2 weeks ago always something to do, everything walkable. Ex. everyday people putting on a concert with the blessing of The City, and no stupid bylaws preventing them. Montreal is vibrant, Ottawa is not.
It’s hardly an exciting place to go …
Who the fuck wants to come here The lying mainstream media and the Liberal government have driven a large divide. Don’t worry though, the Convertatives, will fix you and the mess you and your boss made.
People who live in Kanata, Barrhaven & Orleans have no incentive to go downtown. Restaurants are just as good or better in the suburbs so why bother going downtown and face traffic & parking nightmares. Downtown Ottawa has become auto unfriendly.
Gee, ArriveCAN perhaps? Many Americans visit by car and probably not bothering now.
It’s no Montreal.
🇨🇦Why would anybody want to visit downtown Ottawa ?
jennasudds Trudeau and Company killed tourism. Bad policy = Bad results. This is just the tip.
Arena
The whole world sees what we've become except for the vocal minority of Ottawa residents. Bootlicking is a Virtue in Ottawa.
Maybe that's because the pandemic isn't over yet.
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