Quebec to cut 5,000 government jobs, force workers to return to office 3 days a week

Quebec plans to eliminate 5,000 full-time government jobs by March 31, 2027 and to force civil servants to return to the office three days a week.

Quebec plans to eliminate 5,000 full-time government jobs by March 31, 2027.

Treasury Board Chair France-Élaine Duranceau also announced Wednesday that government employees will be forced to return to the office three days a week.

These two measures are aimed at increasing government efficiency, Duranceau said at a press conference at the National Assembly.

The Legault government estimates that it will have already eliminated more than 2,000 full-time equivalents (FTEs) by 2025-2026.

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For the rest, it will rely on four measures: a hiring freeze, reduced bureaucracy, in-depth analysis of government missions, and the possibility of reducing the work week to 32 hours.

Duranceau also announced that government employees will be required to be in the office three days a week by the end of Jan. 2026.

According to her, this will strengthen “collaboration, cohesion, and a sense of belonging, while promoting creativity, mentoring, and the integration of employees into their teams.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 3, 2025.