Question Period Note: Optimizing Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Real Property Portfolio

Public Services and Procurement is the federal government’s administrator of real property and is responsible for approximately 6.9 million square metres (m²) of space across Canada. This includes the office portfolio, special purpose buildings, and assets for the Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure Branch. About 6.2 million square metres (m²) is considered office space.

• Public Services and Procurement Canada is committed to ensuring sound stewardship of the Government of Canada’s real property portfolio
  • The post-pandemic environment represents an opportunity to incorporate new workplace arrangements and ensure more efficient use of the office portfolio while also increasing accessibility and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A detailed review conducted prior to the pandemic found that 40% of our space was underutilized
  • My department is working with client departments and agencies to help them identify their future office needs as we continue our transition to a hybrid work model with greater use of unassigned office space and interdepartmental shared space
  • Our plans also include the disposal of surplus and underutilized lands and buildings ensuring that all surplus properties are assessed for suitability for affordable housing
  • Public Services and Procurement Canada is an active contributor to the Federal Lands Initiative, a program led by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, that converts surplus federal lands and buildings available for development into affordable housing units and communities

If pressed on specific actions:

• Public Services and Procurement Canada is working to modernize and green the federal office portfolio over a 10 to 25 year planning horizon, which also includes the disposal of assets that are no longer required
• My department’s approach is evolving in line with the new hybrid workplace. Planning assumptions and investment timelines are being updated to reflect current realities, ensure office space is optimized and improve the overall condition and performance of federal buildings
• Pre-pandemic, my department had identified underutilization of 40% of our office space. Given the current reality of evolving patterns of work, we are confident in our ability to further reduce our portfolio by up to 50%

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