Political and business pressure is mounting for the City of Edmonton to end its hybrid work program.
A letter signed by a provincial minister, real estate associations and business advocates calls on Mayor Andrew Knack to return municipal employees to downtown offices, after the province made this move in the fall. It argues this would bring more accountability and spur economic activity and downtown safety.
Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams was among the signatories. A spokesperson for Williams’s office told CBC he signed because he believes “it is the right thing for Edmonton.”
“A strong downtown core means more foot traffic, more support for local businesses, and more tax revenue that funds the services Albertans depend on,” the statement read.
Knack has been consistent in brushing off calls to end hybrid work, saying in January that there are better ways to revitalize downtown.
At a state of the city address on Thursday, Doug Griffiths, president of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce mentioned the letter in introducing the mayor to the stage. The two of them had some back and forth on the issue during a Q&A.
“We think that it’s critically important as a first step and probably one of the easiest steps to address a host of different situations,” Griffiths said.
Knack said that he agrees with the premise of having more people downtown, but thinks sending 2,500 workers into the office another two days a week isn’t the most effective method.
“Living downtown, getting people there 24/7, seven days a week … feels to provide the greatest value.”
Doug Griffiths, president of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, says he wants the city to signal a gradual return to in-person work. (Madeleine Cummings/CBC)
He acknowledged that the city has currently has insufficient office space for a full return to office, estimating that it would cost between $5 million and $10 million — which could be spent on building housing downtown.
Just last month, the city listed two large office buildings for sale that it said had become too expensive to maintain.
A letter defending the current hybrid work model was sent to Knack and city council from the union representing city workers.
“We ask the city to continue administering hybrid work … rather than treating municipal workers as an economic development tool to subsidize downtown commercial real estate,” wrote CSU 52 president Bryce Jowett.
Jowett said eliminating hybrid options “would be fiscally incoherent” because it would force the city to acquire more office space at the same time as offloading spaces in the name of efficiency.
He added the city would risk losing experienced staff in a blanket return-to-office mandate, and it would violate a letter of understanding signed between the two parties in collective bargaining.
Knack noted that agreement to Griffiths on Thursday as well.
“I think we need to continue to honour our word because that matters to me.”
That letter is an addendum to a collective agreement that expires at the end of 2027.
Griffiths said he understands the city is bound by certain agreements, but reiterated that he’d like to see the city signal a transition will occur over time.
“Bringing people back downtown sets the tone that the people who manage this city are …helping contribute to the change and tone of this city — it’s leading by example.”