DND facing parking crunch at Ottawa’s Carling Campus, encourages staff to work in office on Mondays and Fridays

The parking lot at the Department of National Defence Carling Campus in Ottawa’s west end. Staff have complained about a shortage of parking spaces at the Carling Avenue campus in Ottawa’s west end as public servants spent more time on the office. (Dylan Dyson/CTV News Ottawa)

The Department of National Defence (DND) is encouraging employees at its Carling Campus to work in the office on Mondays and Fridays and is looking to lease other parking lots as it deals with a shortage of parking spots on some weekdays.

Staff have complained about a shortage of parking spaces at the Carling Avenue campus in Ottawa’s west end as public servants spend more time in the office.

“If you’re not in by, you know, 7:15 (a.m.), you might be travelling all around the building to go find a spot,” Jennifer said.

Another employee told CTV News Ottawa they arrived at the Carling Campus later than usual due to an appointment and couldn’t find a spot.

“I drove for around 20 to 25 minutes looking for a spot throughout various parking lots,” the employee said. “I did not find anything and so I drove out of the entire complex, out across the street.”

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On Tuesday, CTV News Ottawa’s Dylan Dyson found vehicles parked on the grass and on the curb because there were no available parking spaces. When CTV News Ottawa visited the Carling Campus last Thursday, there were several parking spaces available.

The Carling Avenue campus can accommodate approximately 10,000 employees and has 5,000 parking spaces available for military and civilian staff.

In a memo to staff last week, the Department of National Defence encouraged staff to shift in-office attendance to Mondays and Fridays, rather than being in the office Tuesdays through Thursdays, “to support better parking availability and workplace flexibility.”

“Carpooling or using other means to get to Carling is also encouraged,” the memo said.

In response to questions from CTV News Ottawa, a spokesperson for the Department of National Defence said approximately 5,300 employees are on site several days each week, and the number of staff in the office on Fridays is approximately 4,200 people.

“The Department of National Defence (DND) encourages employees to make use of carpooling and other alternative transportation, but we acknowledge that the parking lot is often at or near capacity,” DND said.

“This is compounded by a lack of reliable public transit options, which we hope will improve when the Moodie Station is opened.”

OC Transpo buses currently run to the Carling Campus of the Department of National Defence. The O-Train West Extension, which would extend O-Train service from Tunney’s Pasture to a new station on Moodie Drive, is scheduled to open next year.

The department is “exploring options” to lease parking lots near the Carling Campus and provide shuttle service, according to the spokesperson.

“I’m not hopeful. I don’t think that will happen soon,” Jennifer said.

Parking at the DND Carling Campus is managed by Indigo Canada.

Since February 2025, a Vehicle Towing Procedure has been in effect at the Carling Campus to tow vehicles parked in fire lanes, in accessibility spaces and parking in no-parking zones or unauthorized reserved spaces.

The cost of recovering a towed vehicle is $400.

In-office requirements

While DND is asking employees to work in the office on Mondays and Fridays due to the parking shortage, the department says employees must still follow the in-office requirements of three days a week.

“Employees are encouraged to make use of alternatives, such as shifting their selection of in-office days to a Monday and/or Friday as they are less busy,” a DND spokesperson said.

“Employees who choose this option must still ensure they meet the requirement to work on-site a minimum of three days per week, in accordance with Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) directive.”

As of Monday, May 4, all executives in the federal public service, including the Department of National Defence, are required to be in the office five days a week. As of July 6, all other public servants will need to be in the office four days a week.

DND says they will not delay the implementation of the four-day in-office mandate due to the parking space shortage.

“The department is preparing for increased onsite presence and will do so in alignment with Treasury Board direction and operational requirements,” DND said.

“The approach will focus on meeting the prescribed onsite presence while ensuring continued operational effectiveness. Implementation will be managed by managers, taking into account workforce needs, available workspace, and the configuration of departmental facilities. Workspace may be limited in certain areas, including in the national capital region. Physical space restrictions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and management will be authorized to recommend temporary exceptions in line with relevant policies.”

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Dylan Dyson

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