The COVID-19 pandemic has moved many federal public services to work from home.Ottawa is telecommunications I found a new way for employees to work effectively from a distance..

The migration was successful enough The federal government is considering continuing some remote work, Probably reduce the rental space in that office.

This raises the question-if you don’t need to work in an office in the Ottawa area, do you need to work in Ottawa?

Centralization of federal work

Canada has more than 300,000 federal employees, The Core Administration (CPA) employs more than 230,000 people, and other agencies such as the Canada Revenue Agency employ less than 70,000 people.

The percentage of agency jobs concentrated in the metropolitan area, including Ottawa Gatineau and its surrounding areas, has declined since 2016. The opposite is true for CPA work. The concentration of certified accountant employees in 1995 was only 33 percentBut in 2020 it was up to 46 percent.

Most Certified Accountant Workers is Skilled knowledge worker.. These are good jobs. It’s time to decentralize more federal jobs, including those of certified accountants.

Case of decentralization

Studies suggest decentralizing public service jobs Reduce costs, Strengthen national security and reduce irony to the government by spreading government functions nationwide..

Decentralization also distributes the economic benefits of the public sector nationwide. According to a 2019 UK study“The arrival of 10 civil servant jobs in an area will spur the creation of about 11 jobs in the private sector, including professional services such as law and consulting.”

Most importantly, it enhances the federal government’s ability to interact directly with the community. As nationally qualified people have more access to career opportunities, the voice of the region within the government grows. Advocacy and community groups across the country enjoy a more equal competitive arena for engaging in policy processes.

This increase in geographic diversity of voices working within and connecting with governments could lead to improved strategic policy advice.

Creating a national strategy

Now is the perfect time to take serious steps to decentralize the work of the Canadian federal government.

COVID-19’s telecommuting experience shows the amazing potential of technology to overcome distance. I learned how to use technology efficiently, reduce unnecessary travel, and easily connect across the country. You need to take advantage of the pandemic turmoil to rethink the jobs and services you need in Ottawa.

read more: COVID-19 has the potential to have a lasting and positive impact on workplace culture

Demand for this is expected to increase, especially in Canada’s economic recovery from Alberta. Just before COVID-19 shuts down The four MPs identified the centralization of federal headquarters as an example of systematic injustice to Alberta... A few months later, the Fair Deal Panel in Alberta told the Western Prime Minister, “Distribution map of federal civil servants across Canada and a list of federal agencies and decision-making bodies that can recommend relocation to Western Canada.. “

According to a recent survey, decentralized work may be publicly popular. 2021 Viewpoint Alberta A survey of more than 800 respondents in Alberta and Saskatchewan found strong support for increasing federal employment in each state.

Similarly, 2021 Tomorrow’s coalition In a survey of more than 5,800 Canadians, nearly three-quarters (73.5%) said, “More government agencies from Ottawa to give more Canadians access to jobs in federal public services. It turns out that they support moving to other cities in the country.

Now is the time to act. In fact, Canada is facing immediate decisions regarding the location of the new Canadian Water Authority. The decision process has not yet been announced, Regina and Sucent. Marie, Ontario is already competing for agency headquarters. Other cities may be planning to do so as well.

Canada has experience in diversifying federal work, including moving the headquarters of the National Energy Commission from Ottawa to Calgary and establishing a local tax center for the Canada Revenue Agency. These serve as precedents for bold new strategies.

Advance national strategy

Indeed, decentralization faces political challenges. The benefits of work decentralization are long-term and challenges arise quickly., Politicians who are more focused on the next election may be reluctant to take on that task.

Vested interests are noisy.You need a strategy to deal with Relocation costsRemote work options can reduce these, including staff turnover and associated loss of experience.

We need a national strategy.The· UK Growth Field Program Runs thousands of London jobs, Including the role of policy adviser,What 13 regional hubs In the next 10 years, we may provide ideas and blueprints.

Canada also Shift civil servant jobs from the capitals of Mexico, Norway, South Korea, Denmark and Malaysia..

COVID-19’s telecommuting experience suggests that distance is not insurmountable for federal work. No one suggests that civil servants will work at home forever, but civil servant jobs do not necessarily have to be done in Ottawa. Use this as an opportunity to rethink how federal work is distributed throughout Canada.

Author: Loleen Berdahl-Johnson Secretary-General, Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, Professor, Faculty of Political Science, University of Saskatchewan