In Ontario’s 2022 budget, released last week, the province announced plans to design, test and implement co-working spaces in smaller cities and towns for Ontario Public Service employees, as well as optimize more government-owned offices.

To help people live and work in their communities, the OPS will examine how best to design hybrid workplace environments that help reduce transportation congestion, contribute to environmental conservation and reduce future real estate costs while also maintaining excellence in the delivery of services.

Touchdown co-working spaces for OPS employees will roll out in North York, Hamilton, London, Sudbury and Ottawa, and expand to other regional locations to support the future of work as needed and boost accessibility.

As the budget states, “these are important elements in the design of hybrid workplaces that will help to attract the best and the brightest talent, while also demonstrating to the public the ability for government to improve and advance the delivery of services and productivity.”

More focus on maximizing government-owned offices 

Ontario is also accelerating its office optimization plan, which has already begun in Toronto and Sudbury and will soon begin in London.  The enterprise‐wide approach to space planning and delivery will help unlock and increase the value of real estate assets across the province and reduce third-party leased space.

Ontario has one of the largest and most complex real estate portfolios in Canada, from schools to courthouses.

“Recognizing the unique needs of each community, the government can help public‐sector organizations work together to use property for what communities need the most,” the budget states. “This may include using public‐sector real estate and other spending to stimulate local economies or moving out of expensive leased office space.”