Ontario says its workers can have more flexibility—but only during the World Cup

The Ontario government has hinted that it may offer its workers some flexibility on its return-to-office mandate, but only during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “Our government has always been clear since day one, there’s flexibility, there’s allowance for circumstances,” Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy said during a press conference on Wednesday. “This is an example of one of those accommodations, clearly in FIFA.”

Related: Ontario public sector union boss Dave Bulmer on Doug Ford’s return-to-office mandate

Six World Cup matches will be played at Toronto Stadium (BMO Field’s name for the duration of the tournament) beginning June 12, with Team Canada hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city expects up to 300,000 visitors, with more than 45,000 in-stadium fans for each match and an extra 20,000 watching at the FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York and the Bentway. Estimates have traffic volume up 15 per cent.

The Ontario Public Service told its unions in late May that employees could start work earlier or end later on FIFA game days. It is also considering vacation requests for the days in question but made no mention of WFH, according to AMAPCEO, which represents about 17,000 public workers.

Related: Doug Ford’s Tories have “no plan” to lease or buy new offices for the province’s workers

Meanwhile, the Treasury Board has said that union managers “can approve ad hoc, occasional or temporary remote work requests to provide short-term flexibility” between June 12 and 26.

AMAPCEO has been critical of Ontario’s return-to-office policy, which meant a full five days of in-person work beginning in January of this year. In an interview, union president Dave Bulmer told Toronto Life that the mandate was antiquated and wasteful. “Taking away remote work feels so punitive,” Bulmer said. “And for what?”