Liberal MPs Maintain Silence as Fanjoy Breaks Ranks on Office Mandate
Ottawa-area Liberal Members of Parliament are maintaining strict party discipline following Carleton MP Bruce Fanjoy's public break from government messaging this week regarding the controversial return-to-office mandate for federal public servants.
Government Announces Stricter Office Requirements
The federal government announced last Thursday that it will require public servants to return to their offices for an additional day per week starting this summer. The new directive will see most employees working in-person four days weekly beginning in July, while executives will be required to return to the office full-time five days per week starting in May.
Fanjoy Calls for Policy Reconsideration
Carleton MP Bruce Fanjoy, who achieved an upset victory over Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the last federal election, released a formal statement on Monday calling on the government to reconsider the policy change. Fanjoy expressed opposition to what he described as a "one-size-fits-all" return-to-office mandate, arguing that the policy imposes unnecessary costs on taxpayers, negatively impacts work-life balance, and lacks supporting evidence.
The MP declined an interview request from media outlets, with a staff member in his office indicating that Fanjoy "believes the statement speaks for itself" and referencing the MP's previous comments on the matter. Back in December, when return-to-office rumors began circulating on Parliament Hill, Fanjoy told The Canadian Press that he saw little benefit in forcing government workers to commute downtown.
Other Ottawa MPs Decline to Comment
Following Fanjoy's departure from official government messaging, other Liberal MPs representing the National Capital Region have remained conspicuously silent on the issue. The Ottawa Citizen contacted multiple Ottawa-area Liberal MPs including Anita Vandenbeld, Marie-France Lalonde, Mona Fortier, David McGuinty, Steven MacKinnon, Yasir Naqvi, Jenna Sudds, and Greg Fergus.
None of these elected officials provided public comments regarding the return-to-office policy. A staffer for Ottawa West—Nepean MP Anita Vandenbeld stated that she would not be issuing any public statement and would instead focus on individual responses to constituents who contact her office directly.
Constituent Communications Reveal Limited Engagement
Some Ottawa residents have taken to social media platforms to share responses they received from their local MPs regarding the return-to-office mandate. These included email replies from Vandenbeld and other representatives, though none contained substantive policy positions or public statements.
The communications director for Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester MP Mona Fortier did not respond to multiple messages and phone calls from media outlets. Similarly, the press secretary for Ottawa South MP David McGuinty did not reply to inquiries, while the press secretary for Gatineau MP Steven MacKinnon referred questions to the Treasury Board of Canada.
A staff member for Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi passed along an initial message but did not follow up with additional information. Communications sent to the office of Hull—Aylmer MP Greg Fergus went unanswered entirely. A staffer for Orléans MP Marie-France Lalonde confirmed that the MP would not be making any public comments on the matter.
Growing Tension Over Workplace Policy
The silence from most Ottawa Liberal MPs contrasts sharply with Fanjoy's public stance, highlighting potential divisions within the government caucus regarding workplace policies for federal employees. The return-to-office mandate has generated significant discussion among public servants and policy analysts, with debates focusing on productivity, work-life balance, and the future of hybrid work arrangements in the public sector.
As the summer implementation date approaches, pressure continues to mount on government representatives to clarify their positions on this significant policy change affecting thousands of federal employees in the National Capital Region and across Canada.
