Regional councillor looks to pause return-to-office orders
Posted Nov 19, 2025 11:12:58 AM.
Last Updated Nov 19, 2025 11:54:07 AM.
As staff at the Region of Waterloo are being ordered to return to in-office work more frequently in the coming months, one regional councillor is looking to formulate a plan so that office spaces are being used effectively and responsibly.
Regional Councillor Joe Gowing is putting forward a pair of motions at regional council on Wednesday evening that would establish the creation of a Corporate Facilities Strategic Plan to inventory regional spaces, assess how they are being used, evaluate how much their upkeep is costing taxpayers, and what investment they could require over the next decade.
Gowing is also putting forward a motion that any further return-to-office orders beyond the mandatory three-day in-office rule for staff at the Region of Waterloo which is coming up on Dec. 1, be paused until this plan is created.
“This return to work came through, and I’m like, ‘Hold on here, what’s our plan for it?'” said Gowing. “When I started asking questions, I got the feeling that we’re just trying to bring people back to be here without a plan.”
Since joining council in August, Gowing noted that he’s been touring regional facilities only to find empty spaces that could be utilized for the region’s benefit.
“I want to make sure that we’re doing the right thing for the right reasons, and it has to be feasible,” said Gowing.
His plan would include an analysis of regional spaces to find where there are opportunities for optimization, co-location, or consolidation, so taxpayer dollars aren’t being wasted on empty desks. Gowing noted that unused spaces, or spaces that are only used on specific days, could be rented out for community uses, amongst other ideas that could generate revenue.
“If we keep people at home and operate as-is, can we utilize these spaces that we have for revenue-generating, whether that be renting out our spaces to community, that sort of thing,” said Gowing.
If his motions pass, the Corporate Facilities Strategic Plan would be budgeted for in 2026.
