Liberal MP Bruce Fanjoy criticizes government’s latest return-to-office order

Bruce Fanjoy, the Liberal MP for Carleton, has broken ranks with his party to criticize the federal government’s latest return-to-office (RTO) mandate.

Last week, federal public servants were ordered to return to their offices four days a week starting in July, up from the current three days a week. Executives will return five days a week starting in May.

In a letter posted on social media Monday, Fanjoy called on the government to reconsider the move.

“There is little to no evidence that a one-size-fits-all RTO policy will improve productivity or service to Canadians,” he wrote.

Fanjoy, whose Ottawa riding is home to thousands of federal public servants, said forcing them back four days a week will cost the government more, contribute to pollution and make it harder for workers to balance their jobs with their other responsibilities.

CBC has reached out to Fanjoy’s office for additional comment, but it declined.

On Tuesday, Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali responded briefly to Fanjoy’s letter in a scrum with reporters.

“I respect everyone’s opinion, and we all have differences of opinions. That’s fine with me,” he said.

The latest RTO mandate also prompted strong criticism from public sector unions. 

Sharon DeSousa, president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), called it “a slap in the face to all federal public service workers across this country.”

PSAC has filed five unfair labour practice complaints with the Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board in response to the government’s decision.

Fanjoy hoped for ‘flexibility’

Remote work rules have been an ongoing source of friction in the public service since COVID-19 forced most federal workers to work remotely in 2020.

After public health restrictions began to ease, the federal government moved in 2023 to have workers return to the office two to three days a week.

The Treasury Board said the government will engage with unions to implement the new return-to-office plan and address concerns over assigned seating, occupational health and safety, and other matters.

Prime Minister Mark Carney promised late last year that a plan would soon come into “sharper view.”

At the time, Fanjoy said he hoped there would be “flexibility” as employees return to the office.

“A lot of our trickiest problems in cities are because we require everyone to be in a very small space,” Fanjoy said in December. “Having public servants spread out a little bit, that’s good for all the economies of our local communities.”

Fanjoy was elected in Carleton last April, ousting Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.