Prime Minister Mark Carney says the federal government is preparing to outline new expectations for in-office work among public servants, confirming that different levels of return requirements are under consideration. Speaking at the Mayor’s Breakfast in Ottawa, Carney said the government will consult unions before final decisions are made, but he acknowledged that current hybrid rules may soon shift as departments adjust to new operational needs. His comments come amid growing speculation that a revised directive for federal workers is already in development.
Carney told attendees that public servants play a vital role during a difficult moment for the country and should have the tools and work environments needed to be effective. He suggested that future office requirements may vary by position, seniority and departmental capacity. These remarks touched off an immediate reaction from unions, which said they were surprised that the prime minister chose a public event to hint at policy changes rather than directly communicating with employees or union leadership.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada said it was alarmed by suggestions of a potential five-day in-office requirement, referencing a leaked slide deck that claimed such a plan might be under review. Union president Sharon DeSousa said the union has been attempting to reach federal officials since the leak surfaced and vowed to fight any directive that undermines ongoing contract negotiations. The Canadian Association of Professional Employees issued a similar warning, saying workers should not be hearing about major policy shifts through rumours or public appearances.
While the Treasury Board Secretariat has refused to confirm whether a new directive is coming, reporting by La Presse suggested the government is considering a full return to the office by January 2027. Professional organizations have urged the government to base decisions on service outcomes rather than optics. The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada said RTO policies must focus on when in-person work improves innovation, collaboration or training. Its president Sean O’Reilly said requiring employees to commute only to sit in video meetings risks damaging recruitment and service quality.
Carney’s comments come as the City of Ottawa prepares to bring its own employees back to the office five days a week beginning January 1, 2026. The mayor said the city is planning for a possible surge in federal workers returning downtown and is expanding transit service ahead of the shift. The broader conversation about workplace expectations is also taking place during a major restructuring of the federal public service. The Canada Strong Budget 2025 aims to eliminate twenty eight thousand positions and save sixty billion dollars by 2029. Departments have already issued workforce adjustment notices, and more than sixty eight thousand public servants have received early retirement information as the government moves toward what Carney describes as a transformed, more technology driven public service.
