Ottawa's fraud and waste hotline is proving its worth, surfacing troubling behaviour among a handful of city employees — including staff who were allegedly working second jobs while on the city's clock, and others found sleeping during their shifts.
What the Hotline Found
The City of Ottawa operates a confidential fraud and waste reporting line that allows residents and employees to flag suspected misconduct without fear of retaliation. According to a recent report, tips received through the hotline led investigators to substantiated cases of city workers holding outside employment during their scheduled work hours — essentially collecting a city paycheque while performing duties for another employer.
Separate tips pointed to employees sleeping on the job, a particularly serious concern in roles where alertness is tied to public safety or service delivery.
While the city has not publicly identified the individuals or departments involved, investigations were launched and, in at least some cases, disciplinary action followed.
How Ottawa's Hotline Works
The fraud and waste hotline has been in place for years as part of the city's broader integrity and accountability framework. It's managed independently to protect the identity of tipsters, and reports are triaged by the city's auditor general's office or relevant oversight bodies.
The line is open to both the public and city employees, and covers a wide range of potential misconduct — from financial fraud and misuse of city resources to conflicts of interest and exactly this kind of time-theft behaviour.
City officials have repeatedly emphasized that the hotline is a critical tool for maintaining public trust in how taxpayer dollars are spent.
Time Theft: A Real Cost to Taxpayers
Working a second job on city time isn't just a policy violation — it's a direct cost to Ottawa residents. Every hour a city employee spends on outside work during a paid shift is an hour the city is not getting the service it's paying for.
Depending on the role, this could mean delayed service requests, reduced productivity in city departments, or in safety-sensitive positions, potential risk to the public.
The sleeping-on-shift allegations carry similar weight. Whether in a monitoring role, a maintenance function, or a frontline service position, being asleep on duty undermines both the employee's responsibilities and the public's confidence in city operations.
What Happens Next
The city has not released detailed outcomes for every substantiated case, but disciplinary measures for time theft and dereliction of duty can range from formal reprimands to termination, depending on severity and whether it's a repeat offence.
The cases serve as a reminder that Ottawa's accountability systems are functioning — and that the hotline is more than a symbolic gesture. Tips from coworkers and members of the public are actively leading to real investigations.
Residents or city employees who want to report suspected fraud or waste can reach the hotline anonymously through the City of Ottawa's official integrity reporting channels.
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