Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleVICTORIA — B.C. premier-designate Lorne Doerkson says he would like more provincial public servants working from their offices, while acknowledging that some hybrid arrangements will likely remain. His comments signal a possible shift in direction, but no new province-wide return-to-office rule has been announced.
What Doerkson said
In an interview with CBC published Monday, Doerkson said he expects hybrid work to remain in some form, but made clear that he would prefer more employees to return to their workplaces.
“I think there is probably always going to be a hybrid sort of feature going forward.”
Lorne Doerkson, premier-designate, in an interview with CBC
Doerkson also said he is prepared to discuss how any change would affect public-sector employees in rural and smaller communities. He did not announce a timetable, a minimum number of office days or a new policy in the interview.
What the current B.C. policy allows
The B.C. Public Service’s published flexible-work guidance allows arrangements such as telework where they are operationally feasible. It says flexible work is voluntary, requires mutual agreement between an employee and supervisor, and is not an entitlement. Suitability depends on the employee’s duties, operational requirements and individual circumstances.
The public guidance does not set a universal four- or five-day in-office requirement for provincial employees. Any change would require a formal decision by the incoming government and further direction to ministries and the Public Service Agency.
Union warns of rural-community impact
BC General Employees’ Union president Paul Finch told CBC he was “a bit concerned” about the comments. He said remote work has helped the province recruit employees in smaller communities, supported local economies and reduced the need for government office space.
The union said it is open to discussions about workplace arrangements but wants any changes to be deliberate and cautious. The impact could vary between employees whose duties require physical attendance and workers whose jobs can be performed remotely.
What happens next
Doerkson is expected to take office later this month after the 2026 provincial election count is completed. Elections BC has scheduled the final count for November 6 to 10. Until the incoming government announces a formal change, the published flexible-work guidance remains the public-service framework.
Sources: CBC News interview with Lorne Doerkson; B.C. Public Service flexible-work guidance; BCGEU public-service bargaining hub.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
