# Canadian Federal Agencies Invest in Office Reconfiguration

Thirteen Canadian federal departments and agencies are collectively investing over **$18.7 million** in 2026 to reconfigure and acquire office spaces to support a return-to-office policy requiring most public servants to work on-site four days per week. Key agencies leading these expenditures include Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is managing the space optimization and additional accommodations necessary to meet increased on-site presence demands in Ottawa, Ontario.

- This investment signals a significant procurement opportunity for firms specializing in office space design, reconfiguration, and facility management services within the Canadian federal government.
- Procurement professionals should anticipate increased demand for workspace optimization solutions and related services to support evolving workplace policies.
- Organizations serving federal clients in Ottawa and Ontario should evaluate capabilities to meet requirements for flexible, collaborative office environments aligned with government return-to-office mandates.
- The policy reflects a strategic shift emphasizing in-person teamwork, which may influence future federal real estate and facilities procurement planning.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Professional Services
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** September 24, 2026

### Government Entities
- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
- Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
- Correctional Service of Canada (CSC)
- Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)

### Key Quotes
> If you’re looking for a study that says this is a better way to do things, I don’t have one. I would describe this as a philosophical choice of the employer and a belief that teamwork is better.
> — Bill Matthews, Treasury Board Secretary

> They don’t have the information that they would need to make a good, informed decision that protects the rights of workers in this country.
> — Heather McPherson, Member of Parliament

### Sources
- [
	13 federal departments, agencies spending more than $18 million on return-to-office](https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/national-news/2026/09/23/13-federal-departments-agencies-spending-more-than-18-million-on-return-to-office) - The Lethbridge Herald
- [13 federal departments, agencies spending more than $18 million on return-to-office | meadowlakeNOW](https://meadowlakenow.com/2026/09/23/federal-organizations-to-spend-more-than-18-million-on-return-to-office) - meadowlakeNOW