Government Operations Committee on May 5th, 2026

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Just before I give the floor to the secretary, I'd like to say that studies on hybrid work have been done in the private sector. As a member of Parliament, I have employees and we no longer have the same relationship because we use technology more frequently. That's why I'm asking for information. It hasn't been shown that people are more productive when they're on site, whether it's all week or four days a week.

[Bill Matthews, Secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat]

Mr. Chair, I just want to add a brief word to the comments made by the President of the Treasury Board.

We want to build a more effective workforce based on the government's agenda and priorities. We'll get there with the people in the office and senior executives who will be there five days a week. To create a better work environment, it's better if employees have their own space to work. The teams prefer to work together while having an unshared office, desk, etc.

The change we're making is that we're going to assigned seating, to the extent we can, so that teams can be together: Workforces are more productive that way. We have done some consultation. There are going to be some spaces across the public service, when there was not enough space to do that initially, and it will evolve.

The objective is five days a week for executives, starting this week. That is no problem. Four days is the intention, starting in July, for non-executives. To the extent we can get to more assigned seating, we will do that. However, that will take some time, and it will vary by minister or by department because there was growth across the public service that was not supported by real property additions.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

I have 10 seconds left.

I'm trying to think about customer service, such as payroll service, and the upcoming transition to what's called Dayforce. It's hard to find any consistency.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

That's our time.

Mrs. Block, please go ahead for five minutes.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

I think it was Mr. Patzer.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Patzer, go ahead.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Thank you very much.

Minister, can you, really briefly, inform this committee of this: When did you become the minister?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

It was last year.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Are you aware of the Treasury Board's policy on communications and federal identity?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Do you have any specific questions on that?

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Broadly speaking, are you aware of it?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

There are so many policies. I'd like to know what your specific question is on that.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

That's okay. I'll get into it, for sure.

The policy took effect on March 27, 2025. It was updated from a policy from 2016, so it was within Liberal governments. The policy is on communications and federal identity. I'm going to go down to section 3.1, and I'm going to quote:

Government of Canada communications are non-partisan, effectively managed, well coordinated, clear and responsive to the diverse information needs of the public and Government of Canada employees....

It goes on to say, in the definition of “non-partisan”, that it means:

objective, factual and explanatory;

free from political party slogans, images and identifiers; bias; designation; or affiliation;

that the primary colour associated with the governing party is not used in a dominant way, unless an item is commonly depicted in that colour....

I'm going to start here, Minister. Budget 2025 has the words “Canada Strong”. The spring economic update has the phrase “Canada Strong”. Today, from the Liberal Party web page, there are the words “Canada Strong”, and from the convention web page, the words “Canada strong”. Also, Liberal Party fundraising—

[John-Paul Danko, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm sorry, but I'm going to stop the clock.

Go ahead on your point of order.

[John-Paul Danko, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

I don't believe we're permitted to use props as part of our committee—

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Yes, we are. It's not the House of Commons, Mr. Danko.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Actually, there are different rules for committees.

Continue, Mr. Patzer.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Thank you very much. The rules matter, and this is what I'm getting to.

The Liberal Party's website has the words “Canada Strong”, and it is soliciting donations. It was the theme of your convention. It's also the theme of your update. It is also the theme of your budget.

The Treasury Board—and you're the minister—sets out the policy, and the policy, this document about Government of Canada communications, is clear. Right here, in the very bottom corner, it has “Government of Canada”.

It's pretty clear that this is partisan branding. Government of Canada branding, in radio and television ads, uses “Canada Strong”. It's quite clear. Since you're the department that sets the policy, are you following up to make sure that the rules set by the Treasury Board are actually being followed by the Government of Canada?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

I know the rules, and I saw that.

I just wanted to get back to how.... Canadians elected this government with that mandate to build Canada strong, to build the strongest economy in the G7, to create jobs, to help with affordability and to provide dental care support. Do you think anything from that comes into a policy that becomes partisan?

I think the rules are in place, the rules are being followed and, in your interpretation, you are making this up and misleading Canadians.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

I'm making this up. Okay.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

It is a partisan-based committee. This committee is—

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Minister, I'm going to stop you right there. It's my time.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

I'm here to talk about the main estimates 2026-27.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Yes, me too.