Ottawa’s Push to End Remote Work Sparks Anxiety in Canada’s Public Service
So, there’s a major conversation happening right now in Canada’s federal public service, and it’s all centered around one big question: Is Ottawa preparing to end telework altogether? From everything coming out in recent reports and leaked internal documents, it certainly looks like the government is seriously considering a full return to the office—five days a week—within the next couple of years.
According to internal information that has been circulating, federal officials may be required to return to the office full-time by January 1, 2027. Senior executives would go back first, as early as this coming January, followed by other federal employees who might be bumped up gradually—from four days a week next July, to the full five days a week by 2027. This is a notable shift, especially because Ottawa had been assuring public servants for years that hybrid work was “here to stay.”
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For now, the official policy still requires three to four days a week in the office, depending on the position. When questioned, officials like Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali have repeatedly insisted nothing has changed. But the lack of clear answers, paired with the leaked document, is creating a lot of uncertainty.
Inside the public service, the mood is tense. Many employees say these discussions are driving up anxiety, and some even describe a sense of paranoia building across departments. Union leaders are sounding the alarm as well. Sharon DeSousa from the Public Service Alliance of Canada says mental-health concerns are rising sharply, even though employees continue delivering high-quality public services.
Unions argue that telework shouldn’t just be allowed—it should be expanded. They’ve been pushing for years to make remote work the norm, not the exception. They say the government could save massive amounts of money by downsizing office buildings that sit half-empty, and by avoiding costly renovations. There are environmental arguments too: fewer commuters would mean significantly less traffic and lower emissions, particularly in the Ottawa–Gatineau region, where most public servants are based.
There’s also a broader context here. Other governments have already moved back to pre-pandemic norms. Ontario will require full-time office attendance starting January 2026, and the City of Ottawa plans to do the same. Large private companies have made similar moves. Federal officials may be feeling pressure to “align” with that trend.
But not everyone is convinced this direction makes sense. Critics say productivity is actually stronger when employees have flexibility, and that returning everyone to the office simply for the sake of appearances could end up being counterproductive and extremely costly. Some union leaders even compare this push to Elon Musk-style management, arguing that optics are being prioritized over efficiency.
For now, public servants are waiting for clarity, hoping these signals are just rumors. But if the leaked timeline turns out to be accurate, Ottawa may be on the brink of one of the biggest workplace shifts the federal bureaucracy has seen in decades.
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