Federal Organizations to Spend More Than $18 Million on Return-to-Office

A giant Canadian flag hangs on the side of a government office building in downtown Ottawa, on June 30, 2020. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

Federal government departments and agencies are set to spend more than $18 million to get their employees to work in the office more often.

Thousands of federal public servants started a new work schedule in July requiring them to be on-site in the office four days a week.

In response to an order paper question from NDP MP Heather McPherson, 13 federal organizations said they plan to spend a combined $18,720,150 to reconfigure or acquire office space to accommodate the increased frequency of in-person work.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada said it will spend almost $5.7 million, while Fisheries and Oceans Canada said it will spend $4.2 million.

The Canada Border Services Agency estimated its costs at $3.9 million, while the Correctional Service of Canada said it plans to spend $1.37 million.

Some organizations said they have no costs associated with return-to-office, or that they were still being assessed, while several referred questions to Public Services and Procurement Canada, which said it was still evaluating the cost.