After many discussions about reducing office space, the federal government is facing the need for more workstations in certain areas as employees are set to return to the office four days a week in July, as per an analysis by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). The department overseeing government buildings is actively seeking solutions, which may involve extending current leases, optimizing underutilized space, or acquiring additional office space if the current portfolio falls short, according to spokesperson Michèle LaRose.
When questioned by Radio-Canada about potential acquisitions, PSPC declined to provide details regarding whether this would involve purchasing space or buildings, and did not specify the cities where extra office space might be required.
While working with government departments to outline their operational needs, PSPC is preparing for public service executives to return to the office five days a week from May 4 without difficulty, as stated by Larose. Following the executives, all other employees will be mandated to work in the office four days a week starting July 6.
In cases where workplace adjustments are necessary, concrete solutions will be promptly and responsibly implemented, as communicated by Laurent de Casanove, director of communications for Joël Lightbound, the minister of government transformation, public works, and procurement, in a statement in French.
A spokesperson for the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), representing 80,000 public servants, expressed frustration as a taxpayer regarding potential new leases and space acquisitions by the government. The union president, Sean O’Reilly, suggested exploring ways to establish a flexible hybrid work environment, especially now that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government holds a majority in Parliament.
O’Reilly also voiced concerns that with this majority, the government might make more authoritative policy decisions. The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat acknowledged that the return-to-office timeline for unionized employees could be reviewed due to space constraints, but reiterated the intention for these employees to work on-site four days a week starting July 6.
The government aims to enhance team collaboration and service quality for the public through increased workplace presence, as stated by Lightbound’s office. The government has been exploring various models, including telework, to reduce its office footprint over the past decade, according to O’Reilly.
Questions remain about the readiness of additional workstations and whether the government will need to reassess its office portfolio reduction goals with the implementation of the four-day-a-week return plan. The government continues efforts to modernize its real estate portfolio by optimizing space use and reducing costs for taxpayers, as outlined by de Casanove.
In the 2024 budget, the former prime minister’s government committed to reducing office space by 50% over a decade, aiming to lower costs and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the target has since been adjusted, with the current goal set to reduce office space by 33% by 2033-2034 after reassessing departmental space requirements.
PSPC emphasized on its website that transitioning to a hybrid work environment, coupled with the government-wide plan for unassigned seating as the default, will enable more effective space utilization.