Like most, I’m frustrated with Toronto’s stagnation. We should be a preeminent international city! Here is a list of actionable priorities that local, provincial, and federal governments in Canada can pursue to encourage voluntary return-to-office (RTO) across the public and private sectors. These strategies aim to make returning to offices more attractive, practical, and economically beneficial for both employees and employers, without mandates (carrot over stick).

Local Government Priorities (Municipal)

1. Improve Urban Commuting Experience

• Subsidize or reduce transit fares during peak hours.
• Expand express routes, frequency, and service reliability for GO trains, subways, and municipal buses.
• Offer parking incentives or discounted rates for downtown garages.

2. Activate Downtown Cores

• Fund more events, pop-up experiences, markets, and public performances, since summer is upon us.
• Create “Back-to-Office Days” with perks like free coffee, music, or food trucks.
• Partner with BIA/Chambers to offer discounts or rewards to office workers at nearby retail, gym, and restaurant establishments.

3. Invest in Safety, Cleanliness, and Public Space

• Increase visible police presence in business districts.
• Maintain clean sidewalks, improve lighting, and enhance attractive landscaping.

4. Support Flexible Office Infrastructure

• Provide grants or tax breaks for building owners converting underused office space to flex workspaces or collaborative hubs.  Here’s a link to a great podcast with one Calgary developer’s success story. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/commercial-real-estate-podcast/id1137454766?i=1000684074740

Provincial Government Priorities

1. Tax Incentives for Office-Based Work

• Offer tax deductions for commuting costs (e.g. transit, parking).
• Introduce tax credits for employers who maintain or upgrade in-person office environments.

2. Occupational Health & Safety Enhancements

• Publish and promote certification programs for healthy indoor air quality and ergonomic workspaces.
• Offer rebates to companies who retrofit for better ventilation and wellness amenities.

3. Public Service Leadership

• Make provincial ministries lead by example with a hybrid-first but office-visible workforce strategy.
• Reward innovation in team-building and productivity in in-person formats.

4. Support Mental Health & Social Reconnection

• Launch a campaign around “Work, Wellbeing, and Belonging” to highlight the benefits of face-to-face collaboration.
• Expand access to mental health and burnout prevention programs, with a focus on reintegration anxiety.

Federal Government Priorities

1. Align Government Office Policies

• Clarify a consistent federal hybrid workplace standard across departments.
• Publicize success metrics and pilot studies to support balanced return-to-office models.

2. Tax and EI Reform to Encourage Re-engagement

• Consider limited-time EI contribution relief for employers increasing in-office staffing.
• Update CRA guidance on home-office tax deductions to slightly favour in-office workers.

3. National Infrastructure Support

• Invest in transit systems and regional rail that link suburban communities to urban job centers.
• Fund broadband infrastructure in rural areas but pair with policies encouraging hub-based hybrid work.

4. Strategic Communication Campaign

• Launch a national public awareness campaign on the benefits of collaboration, mentoring, and career growth via in-office work.
• Highlight stories of businesses thriving through a flexible but in-person culture.

Cross-Governmental Collaboration Ideas

• Launch a Tri-Level RTO Task Force to coordinate incentives, messaging, and data.
• Create “Workplace Innovation Grants” for businesses testing new office models. Encourage voluntary return-to-office (RTO) across the public and private sectors. These strategies aim to make returning to offices more attractive, practical, and economically beneficial for both employees and employers, without mandates.

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