Doug Ford ordered government employees back to the office, then worked from home himself
And Mark Carney came over to co-work
Another one for the “well, well, well” files.
Global News has reported that Premier Doug Ford, who ordered government employees back to the office five days a week in January, is something of a remote worker himself.
Global obtained a copy of the premier’s itinerary—using Freedom of Information laws, we’ll point out. Those records reveal that, for five weeks beginning in January, Ford worked from home often, taking meetings at his home or attending them virtually.
This means that, while civil servants across the province were adjusting to long, arduous commutes and full-time office jobs—weak coffee, gluteal amnesia, the kind of fluorescent lighting Mariah Carey is allergic to—Ford was joining Teams calls from the comfort of his Etobicoke home.
Related: The Ford government’s $28.9-million private jet has been sold back to Bombardier
Global’s reporting shows that Ford spoke to the governor of Kansas from home, as well as to Ontario’s housing minister, and he also took meetings regarding the province’s recycling program rollout.
Some meetings took place at the premier’s home, including one with Prime Minister Mark Carney. (No word on whether they ordered Pizza Nova for lunch—this is why we need better FOI laws, not worse!)
“I think he has reasons to do it—so do some of his employees,” said Dave Bulmer, president and CEO of AMAPCEO, the union representing Ontario civil servants. “I guess he sees the need for the balance, and we’re supportive of that because it applies to everybody who’s a civil servant.”
When contacted by Global, the premier’s office said Ford was working in his home riding because the legislature was in adjournment.
Mr. Premier, if you simply prefer the WFH life, you can just say that! We understand.
Carly Lewis is a journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times and the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Wired, Interview Magazine, Pitchfork, Elle, and Maclean’s, where she is a contributing editor. Her work has been recognized by the National Magazine Awards and the Digital Publishing Awards. She reports on city life, culture—including what people do online—politics, art and crime. She received the Dave Greber Freelance Writers Award for “The Murder of Ashley Wadsworth,” an investigative feature about a Canadian teenager who was killed by a man she met on social media, published by Maclean’s.
