Ottawa auditor general flags OC Transpo's heavy reliance on overtime

Highlights of a City of Ottawa overtime review say the city's most significant overtime problems are at OC Transpo, where overtime has become a significant and ongoing part of operations rather than an occasional response to surges. The full report is listed to be tabled on November 3, when the details should become clearer. (Photo: file image of public transit in Ottawa.)

A review prompted by hotline reports

The review covered overtime use across the City and was prompted by several reports to the City's Fraud and Waste Hotline, rather than being a routine check. Across the City, the auditor general found the more significant overtime issues were within OC Transpo. The highlights material reviewed did not confirm a full dollar figure for OC Transpo's overtime; that detail is expected in the full report.

Manual processes and hours-of-service risks

The highlights say relying on overtime to manage staff shortages and regular operations is not sustainable in the long term, often leading to higher costs, burnout, reduced productivity, quality issues and increased staff turnover. The review also found significant reliance on manual processes, which limits efficiency, increases the risk of error, makes monitoring difficult and can add costs.

Thirteen recommendations: what to watch

The auditor general made thirteen recommendations. Two disclosed in the highlights are that the City implement processes to proactively identify and manage Hours of Service violations, and that the bus operator booking process, overtime allocation practices and the need for booking clerks be reviewed in future Collective Agreement negotiations. The remaining eleven recommendations, the City's responses and any cost figures were not confirmed in the highlights material and should become clearer once the report is tabled.

Sources: City of Ottawa Office of the Auditor General report highlights, via ottown (2026-11-03).