CELPIP Reading Part 4: Reading for Viewpoints

This summer, the city of Westbrook closed Maple Street to cars every Saturday and Sunday as a trial. For three months, the busy shopping street was turned into a space for walking, with benches, food stalls and live music. Last week, city council voted to make the weekend closures permanent starting next spring, and the decision has divided the neighborhood.

City council member Ana Ruiz, who first proposed the idea, says the trial proved its value. According to Ruiz, families now come downtown to spend the whole afternoon instead of driving in for a single errand. She also points to safety, noting that the street had several minor accidents involving cyclists last year and none during the trial weekends.

Not everyone is convinced. Tom Becker, who has run a hardware store on Maple Street for many years, says his weekend sales fell during the trial. Becker explains that his customers often buy heavy items, such as paint and lumber, and they do not want to carry them several blocks to a parking lot. In his view, the closures help restaurants but hurt shops like his.

Longtime resident Grace Liu sees both sides. Liu enjoys the quieter weekends and says the street finally feels like a real community space. However, because she has trouble walking long distances, she found it hard to reach the shops she relies on. Liu would like the city to keep the closures but add a free shuttle from the parking lot, a suggestion council has agreed to study before the spring.

It's Time to End Mandatory Return-to-Office Policies in Canada's Public Sector

By Margaret Chen

The federal government's recent push to bring public servants back to the office full-time is a step backward that ignores both employee wellbeing and practical realities. After three years of successful remote work during the pandemic, forcing civil servants back to their desks seems particularly tone-deaf. The evidence is overwhelming: remote work has maintained productivity levels while significantly improving work-life balance for thousands of Canadian families. Public sector employees have proven they can deliver essential services from home, often with greater efficiency and job satisfaction. Moreover, the environmental benefits cannot be ignored. Fewer commutes mean reduced carbon emissions, directly supporting Canada's climate commitments. The cost savings are equally compelling – both for employees who save on transportation and meals, and for taxpayers who benefit from reduced office space requirements. Critics argue that collaboration suffers in remote environments, but modern technology has proven this concern largely unfounded. Video conferencing, digital collaboration tools, and flexible hybrid arrangements can maintain team cohesion while preserving the benefits of remote work. Instead of rigid return-to-office mandates, the government should embrace flexible work arrangements that trust employees to determine where they work best. This approach would position Canada as a progressive employer, helping attract and retain top talent in an increasingly competitive job market. The future of work is flexible, and our government policies should reflect this reality.