The City of Ottawa’s fraud and waste hotline has exposed more than allegations of a high-profile kickback scheme: A higher-than-usual number of tips last year also led investigators with the auditor general’s office to employees accused of stealing both time and property.
In one case, an employee is accused of selling that property on Facebook Marketplace.
The latest annual report on the tip line reported 650 allegations in 2024, an 83 per cent increase over the previous year.
Many of the 328 tipsters brought forth more than one issue, which the report said “generally take more time to assess, action and investigate.”
Investigations in past years have exposed instances of employees falsifying vaccination documents, leaking confidential information and attending the 2022 convoy protest in a city vehicle.
Stolen time, assets top list
Of the 30 reports that were substantiated last year, half were related to the “misuse or misappropriation of assets.”
That includes the individual who was found selling city property on Facebook, as well as multiple employees found doing things other than working during paid hours.
Two major investigations resulted in more fulsome reports to city council: the report on an alleged kickback scheme involving a city worker and landlords who are part of housing allowance programs, and an investigation into how buses are maintained.
The alleged kickback scheme remains under investigation by Ottawa police.
In some past reports, the office of the auditor general has detailed the punishments doled out to misbehaving employees. This year, the report provides a more general roundup of actions ranging from disciplinary letters to termination.
Two employees were fired as a result of these investigations in 2024, while a third resigned.