Bringing people back to the office will 'revitalize our workplaces and downtowns across Ontario,' premier says
As part of his broader housing and economic agenda, Ontario premier Doug Ford is pressing municipalities to mandate full-time office work for their staff.
Ford told municipal leaders at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) convention in Ottawa on Monday that city staff should return to offices five days a week. He said the shift would not only improve public service but also help revive downtowns still struggling to regain pre-pandemic activity.
“It will help bring the public service in municipalities closer to the people they serve, and will revitalize our workplaces and downtowns across Ontario,” Ford said, according to CBC News.
The premier praised Brampton mayor Patrick Brown, who announced that his city will end remote work arrangements and encouraged other municipalities to follow suit. The move comes just days after the province confirmed that Ontario public service workers will also be required to return to their offices.
Ottawa already mostly back
Some municipal leaders suggested that Ford’s call may have limited impact in Ottawa, where officials say most employees are already onsite.
Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney told CBC that Ottawa has been moving toward more in-person work. “I think this is part of the change that we’re seeing in general,” he said.
In a statement, the city’s media relations office said more than 85% of staff are now in the workplace five days a week. “We regularly review our hybrid work approach against industry best practices and comparable public-sector employers,” the city said.
Housing and infrastructure link
Ford tied the return-to-office message to broader calls for municipalities to make housing more affordable. He urged cities to reduce development charges, fees that help pay for infrastructure such as roads and water systems but also add to the cost of building new homes.
Lower charges could strain municipal budgets, but Ford said the province would help offset the impact. He announced $1.6 billion in new funding for the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, which supports housing-related projects across Ontario.
The Canadian Press reported that municipal affairs and housing minister Rob Flack also signalled changes to the province’s Building Faster Fund. The program rewards municipalities that meet provincial housing targets, but many communities argue they are penalized for delays beyond their control, such as when builders postpone construction.
Federal investment in communities
The federal government also linked housing goals to new funding. Housing and infrastructure minister Gregor Robertson announced more than $748 million for Ontario through the Canada Community-Building Fund, which supports local transit, roads, and water systems.
“Building a strong Canada starts with building strong communities,” Robertson said in a news release. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario welcomed the federal commitment, saying it allows municipalities to plan multi-year projects that support growth.
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