EDITORIAL: Parliament should end work-from

Labour Day typically marks a reset: Kids go back to school, and the rest of the world resumes its normal work routine.

Sept. 21 marks the return to work for Parliament. Except it doesn't.

Unlike all other democratic assemblies around the globe, the Canadian Parliament is still in hybrid mode. Members of Parliament can vote remotely on an app and participate in some debates by video.

This is unacceptable. An MP is elected to represent the concerns of their constituents. The only effective way to do that is in person.

Ironically, the federal Treasury Board has ordered its workers back to the office. General employees were required to be in-office four days a week as of July 6. As of May 4, executives must be in the office five days a week.

"This approach is to support the Government's ambitious agenda. Increasing on-site presence is about increasing organizational performance, building stronger teams and culture, and ultimately being fully focused on fulfilling our mandates and serving Canadians," says the Treasury Board's website.

Sauce for the workers is sauce for MPs. The average salary for a backbench MP is around $217,000. That's a lot of gravy. The job of MP isn't a side hustle. You don't fit the work of Parliament around your schedule. You schedule your life around your duty to this nation.

Yes, this country is vast and those who live at a great distance from Parliament Hill are at a disadvantage. They're handsomely compensated and rewarded for their efforts: those who live outside the National Capital Region can claim a housing allowance of around $28,000 a year, as well as generous travel benefits to and from their ridings. They also get free passes on Via Rail, with discounted fares for family members. They have meal allowances and relocation costs.

It's reasonable to expect those MPs who insist they cannot travel to Ottawa and who vote from their ridings should not be permitted to also access those benefits.

Politicians know when they run for office that the job requires them to show up for their constituents. For MPs, it requires them to be in the corridors of power on Parliament Hill, not voting remotely from their kitchens as they whip up a batch of cookies.

Feds to close public service co-working sites this fall, use space for return-to-office

Ottawa approved pay hikes for 78% of federal employees in 2025: CTF

Bloated federal civil service costing Canadian taxpayers billions: CTF