Feds should allow public servants to work from home to curb fuel demand: Union

Letting public servants work from home will save money and the environment, a federal union says. CTV’s Austin Lee reports.

A federal union is calling on the federal government to follow the advice of the world’s energy watchdog and allow public servants to work from home as gas prices sit at the highest level in two years.

The price of gas has increased more than 40 cents a litre at Ottawa gas stations since Feb. 28 due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. Gas is selling for an average of $1.78 a litre in Ottawa on Tuesday.

Last week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced several recommendations to reduce the demand for oil and “alleviate the economic impacts on consumers” due to the disruptions to oil markets stemming from the war in the Middle East.

The recommendations to reduce demand for governments, businesses and households include “work from home where possible,” encourage commuters to use public transportation and for motorists to reduce their speeds on the highways by at least 10 kilometres an hour.

The Canadian Association of Professional Employees is calling on the federal government to implement the IEA’s recommendations, noting the “number one recommendation is to work from home wherever possible.”

“Canadians are suffering right now, and the IEA has provided a solution to ease this pain,” said Nathan Prier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees.

“(Prime Minister Mark) Carney must break his silence and explain why he is intent on enforcing a return-to-office order for the country’s largest employer when remote work could save billions of taxpayer dollars, improve productivity, and reduce emissions and transportation network pressures.”

Ian Lee of Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business told CTV’s Your Morning Ottawa on Monday that having public servants work from home is one way to reduce oil consumption and the stress of rising fuel prices on wallets.

“When you look back to COVID as our precedent, countries around the world, including Canada, said, ‘Look everybody, work from home.’ We did it for different reasons at that time, we did it because COVID — but it had the same effect,” Lee said.

“So, millions and millions and millions of people stayed home and alleviated the demand, obviously, for transportation fuels — gasoline and diesel.”

Lee notes some countries are telling their public servants and other workers to “stay at home until the crisis is over.”

Federal public servants are currently required to be in the office a minimum of three days a week, while executives must be in the office four days a week.

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat also issued a new directive on in-office work in February. As of May 4, executives will be required to work onsite five days per week. All other federal employees in the core public service will need to be in the office for a minimum of four days per week, as of July 6.

Opinions differ on commuting

Some public servants tell CTV News Ottawa they don’t mind coming into the office as opposed to working from home.

“When I take my laptop and the end of the day, I’m not reconnecting again. When I’m working from home, I have a hard time to disconnect,” said public sector worker Hana Sidmohand.

“I don’t mind coming to the office. It sounds difficult, but then when you’re there, you’re meeting colleagues, you’re meeting clients, you’re having in-person interactions and it’s positive.”

For others who do not work in the public sector and have to drive frequently for their job, allowing as many workers as possible to work from home makes sense.

“Families have to make hard decisions on what to put on the table. Now with gas, even more so, if people are able to stay home and do their work from home, I’m all for that,” said Anjou Delplancke, a resource consultant with Andrew Fleck Children’s Services.

“As a consultant, I am on the road every day, so it has a big impact on my income. At least $200 a week goes to gas.”

Former federal government workers are also weighing in on the union’s latest call for remote work.

“What about the private sector? I have worked in both government and the private sector. I don’t think we should get special treatment just because we’re a public servant,” said Harris Boyd.

“You do have a lot of benefits when you work for the government, a lot more security, so I think if they’re going to do something for part of society, they should do something for everybody.”

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“I think there are some exceptions, but as a general rule, if you can’t afford the gas, maybe you shouldn’t get a car,” said Diane Villeneuve who spent roughly 30 years working in the public sector.

“Working from home to me is not the best idea. It’s not good as a group. You work better when you’re with other people.”

Canadians for Affordable Energy president Dan McTeague says gas prices will drop 13 cents a litre in Ottawa on Wednesday.

Actions to reduce demand

The IEA says the 10 measures it recommends to reduce fuel consumption can be “implemented quickly.”

“These actions focus primarily on road transport, which accounts for around 45 per cent of global oil demand, but also cover aviation, cooking and industry,” the IEA said.

“Widespread adoption, where possible, would amplify their global impact and help cushion the shock.”

The 10 recommendations are:

• Work from home where possible
• Reduce highway speed limits by at least 10 km/h
• Encourage public transportation use
• Alternate private car access to roads in large cities on different days
• Increase car sharing and adopt efficient driving practices
• Efficient driving for road commercial vehicles and delivery of goods
• Divert LPG use from transport
• Avoid air travel where alternative options exist
• Where possible, switch to other modern cooking solutions (encouraging electric cooking)
• Leverage flexibility with petrochemical feedstocks and implement short-term efficiency and maintenance measures

The head of the IEA warned on Monday that the global economy faces a “major, major threat” due to the ongoing war in Iran and the Middle East.

“No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction,” Fatih Birol said.

With files from The Associated Press and CTV News Ottawa’s Austin Lee

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