Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says a government led by him would cut the number of federal public servants — but he doesn’t mind if they work from home.
When asked by Radio-Canada on Tuesday if U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order sending federal workers back to the office five days a week is a good idea, Poilievre said that what matters is whether public servants do the work.
He said that work is not getting done now within the federal government.
He called for public servants to be given clear assignments and be monitored to ensure they’re completing their tasks.
Poilievre said he would also cut the federal public service, arguing that Canada has far too many bureaucrats.
He said the federal Liberals drove up the deficit in part by hiring 110,000 public servants. The National Capital Region is home to about approximately 155,505 public servants employed by the Treasury Board, making the federal government the largest employer in Ottawa.
Federal public servants were mandated back to the office for three days a week this fall. The two-day mandate from 2023 resulted in a strike of 155,000 Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members across the country.
Remote work for public servants has been an ongoing debate since the pandemic and one that has informed talks about revitalization, traffic and entertainment in the downtown core.
— with files from Sarah MacFarlane
