Prime Minister Carney’s comments about a new in-office mandate for federal public service workers are completely out of touch with what’s best for workers and taxpayers in Canada. 

At a breakfast catering to Ottawa’s business elites with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Prime Minister Carney said that his government will have a “sharper view” of changes to the in-office guidelines for workers in the coming weeks.   

While no official announcement has been made, his comments come on the heels of a leaked Treasury Board document suggesting the federal government is considering bringing all federal public service workers into offices four days per week starting July 1, 2026, and increasing to five days per week by January 1, 2027.  

“This government’s biggest promise is to reduce public service spending at all costs – yet this plan flies in the face of everything they’re trying to achieve,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President. “Prime Minister Carney seems intent on cutting tens of thousands of jobs and the public services people depend on, while spending millions just to get more butts in seats and cater to businesses.” 

The government’s own analysis shows it could save $6 billion by expanding remote work for tens of thousands of federal workers and selling unneeded office space.  

The current three-day mandate has been a disaster since the start – any increases will inevitably lead to more chaos, overcrowded offices, congested roads and needless spending on renovations to aging federal buildings.  

PSAC will challenge any remote work changes 

Remote work is a key issue for Treasury Board and Canada Revenue Agency workers currently at the bargaining table.  At the table, we made it clear that under federal law, a statutory freeze applies during bargaining, and the employer cannot impose new rules or changes to working conditions without the union’s consent.  

“If this government tries to make sweeping changes to remote work in the middle of bargaining, we will oppose them,” said DeSousa.  “Nothing is off the table – we will challenge them in court and in our workplaces.”