Users saddened by loss of Gatineau federal co-working office | CBC News

"Regular users of a federal government co-working space north of the Gatineau, Que., core say they'll miss its benefits when it closes at the end of its lease next month. The GCcoworking space on boulevard de la Cite near boulevard Maloney opened in 2019 with spots available for booking for about 60 federal public servants. In the last year there were only three or four spaces left untaken on an average day. However, the space is set to close on June 12 when its lease expires."

""It's really a shame. It's been a big help," said Ousseina Alzouma in French on Tuesday. She said she has three kids and gets to spend more time with them when she is 10 minutes away from work versus the 45 minutes it can take to get to her department's Ottawa office. "It's good for work-life balance," said Carolyne Philion in French. She said it was worth it to occasionaly wake up at night to book a spot."

"The plan to cut about 40,000 total jobs from the public service is happening alongside the push to get public servants back to the office four days a week in early July instead of the current three. There are concerns over where those workers will go. Some departments such as Global Affairs Canada have said that it can't make four days in the office work because it doesn't have enough space. Other co-working spaces may be turned into more traditional offices."

"Alex Silas, a national executive vice-president with the Public Service Alliance of Canada, said the government is caught in an office capacity crunch of its own creation when it could instead allow more remote work. The federal government co-working space on boulevard de la Cite in Gatineau is closing on June 12, 2026. (Emilien Juteau/Radio-Canada) Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) di"

A federal government co-working space in Gatineau near boulevard de la Cite opened in 2019 with booking spots for about 60 federal public servants. Regular use left only three or four spaces untaken on an average day in the last year. The space is scheduled to close on June 12 when its lease expires. Users said the location reduces commute time and supports work-life balance, including spending more time with family. Other workers expressed concern about the closure amid public service job cuts and a plan to require four days in-office starting in early July. Departments reported limited office space, and some co-working spaces may be converted into traditional offices. A union representative said the government faces an office capacity crunch it created and could allow more remote work instead.

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