News
‘It’s going to be a long time’: tens of thousands of federal public servants still working from home, eight months into pandemic and no end in sight
By Mike Lapointe and Kate Malloy October 26, 2020
Treasury Board provided 'evergreen guidance' to deputy heads of departments in the spring, which included consideration of a possible resurgence in positive cases and the re-tightening of restrictions in provinces, territories, and cities. But most public servants have been told they'll be working remotely for 'the foreseeable future.'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Oct. 16, 2020. As of March 2019, there were just under 288,000 employees in the federal public service, most of whom continue to work remotely, given the resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the country. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
As tens of thousands of federal public servants across the country continue to work remotely, the government is keeping a close eye on the resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the country as department-by-department plans are made for employees to return to their physical worksites. But as public health authorities continue to signal that physical distancing requirements must remain in place, many public servants will continue to work remotely “for the foreseeable future,” according to Bianca Healy, a spokesperson for the Treasury Board Secretariat.
Related Stories
‘Sharper knives out earlier’ to bring down O’Toole after election defeat, say some Conservative MPs
It would be a mistake to change the party leader after every election loss, say some Conservative MPs and political insiders.Among 18 defeated incumbents, British Columbia, Ontario see most unseated MPs; Conservatives drop nine incumbents, Liberal lose eight
At least 18 ridings saw incumbents lose their contest this election, with the most Conservatives taking the fall, at nine, followed by eight liberals, and one Green MP.
PM snap election call faces challenge by Democracy Watch in Federal Court
Democracy Watch is seeking a Federal Court ruling that would prohibit the prime minister from calling a snap election, unless a vote of non-confidence in the government occurs before the fixed election date.Signs point to mid-October return for Parliament, full agenda for government
A budget bill, media reforms, and the conversion therapy crackdown could lead the Liberals’ fall agenda.Liberals call for collaboration in minority Parliament, while O’Toole fends off challenges
The Liberals were on track to win 159 seats, the Conservatives 119, the Bloc Québécois 33, the NDP 25, and the Green Party two, as ballots from the Sept. 20 federal election were still being counted last week.Alberta energy sector has opportunity with two Liberal MPs elected in province, say lobbyists
Liberal MPs Randy Boissonnault and George Chahal were elected in Alberta ridings in the 2021 federal election, providing the largely Conservative province with more clout in Ottawa, according to some lobbyists.With slight seat gain, NDP has potential to hold ‘balance of power’ in new Parliament
The New Democrats could play a role in Parliament similar to one they played in the 1960s, when they pushed Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson to enact progressive policies like Medicare and the Canada Pension Plan, say stIncreasing tally of early voters adding new dimension to campaign calculus
Advance voting jumped as much as 19.5 per cent this election, and use of special ballots, the majority of which are filled out ahead of election day, increased by roughly 59.4 per cent.Trudeau ‘dodged the bullet’ but will now run the country and party from a ‘weakened’ position, say politicos
'They had that big stick in their hand, which was the election call. They cannot call an election for at least the next year, without the opposition doing egregious things,' says pollster Greg Lyle.Trending Stories
