Government to soon have ‘sharper view’ on public servants’ return to office, says Carney

Government to Clarify Federal Return-to-Office Policy in Coming Weeks: Carney

Ottawa : Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the federal government will soon develop a clearer plan regarding the return of public servants to offices, following consultations with public sector unions in the coming weeks.

Speaking to Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe at a public event on Monday, Carney stated that discussions with unions will focus on the practical details and appropriate levels of in-office work for federal employees.

“We will be engaging with the public sector unions on the modalities of that, on the appropriate levels of that. We will come to a sharper view on it over the course of the next several weeks,” the prime minister said.

He added that the return-to-office policy is unlikely to be uniform and will vary based on multiple factors. “There will likely be different levels of return depending on seniority, depending on role and obviously depending on capacity,” Carney explained.

The government’s updated approach is expected to balance operational needs with flexibility for employees, as remote and hybrid work models continue to reshape Canada’s public sector workforce.