Ontario public servants told to attend office or take vacation during major snowstorm
During an orange-level snow alert that closed highways and schools, an internal Ministry of Transportation email told staff to report to the office or use vacation time if they could not attend.
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By Torontoer Staff
During a heavy snowstorm that shut highways, closed schools and prompted travel warnings, some Ontario public servants received an internal email reminding them of the province’s five-day-a-week, in-office requirement and instructing staff to use vacation time if they could not attend.
The message, sent from a Ministry of Transportation team leader around 9:30 a.m., arrived as Environment Canada upgraded parts of the Greater Toronto Area to an orange alert and officials urged drivers to stay off the roads.
What the email said
The email thanked employees for their flexibility and then restated the province’s in-office expectation. It noted that employees could adjust their hours if travel conditions were difficult, but advised staff to use a vacation day if they could not attend in person.
Moving forward, I want to clarify our expectations during inclement weather, We have a five-day per week in-person work requirement.
Ministry of Transportation internal email
The message added that staff could arrive later or leave earlier when travel conditions were challenging and included the line, "Your safety is important to us," while thanking employees for maintaining work requirements amid winter conditions.
Storm impacts and disruptions
Environment Canada upgraded parts of the region from a yellow to an orange alert early in the morning, advising that travel would be hazardous and that impacts could be major and persistent. By mid-morning, authorities had already closed sections of the Don Valley Parkway because of collisions and black ice.
The zoo closed, six city-run childcare centres shut their doors, dozens of school boards cancelled in-person classes and universities moved to remote instruction in affected areas. The Ontario Provincial Police reported roughly 150 crashes across the GTA in about 24 hours, a figure that later rose toward 200.
Government response and manager discretion
The provincial government told CTV News that managers already have discretion to approve short-term remote work for extenuating circumstances, including inclement weather. No Ontario Public Service directive was issued on the day because local managers can grant ad hoc remote work.
As part of the OPS in-office standard, managers can approve ad hoc, occasional or temporary remote work requests to provide short-term flexibility for various extenuating circumstances - including inclement weather.
Government spokesperson
The ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the timing and wording of the message sent during the storm.
Union criticism and worker concerns
Unions representing tens of thousands of public servants said the email demonstrated a lack of planning and placed workers at risk. AMAPCEO called for a clear inclement weather policy similar to the one used for schools, arguing employees should not be directed to use vacation time to avoid hazardous travel.
When bad weather is imminent and police and weather services are strongly advising against non-essential travel, employees should not be put at risk, nor should they be directed to use a vacation day to protect their own safety.
Dave Bulmer, AMAPCEO President and CEO
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union said many members were allowed to work from home on the day, but that others faced increased workloads onsite and limited breaks due to staffing pressures.
Yesterday’s snowstorm proves what we’ve been saying all along: OPS employees can do their jobs effectively and seamlessly from home when the situation requires it.
Amanda Usher, Chair, OPS Unified Central Employee Relations Committee
Key facts
- Ministry of Transportation emailed staff reminding them of a five-day in-office requirement during an orange-level snow alert.
- The email allowed adjusted schedules but told employees to use a vacation day if they could not attend in person.
- Environment Canada issued an orange alert and authorities reported around 150 to 200 crashes in the GTA during the storm.
- The government says local managers can approve short-term remote work for extenuating circumstances.
- Unions called for a formal inclement weather policy and criticised the expectation that employees use vacation time for safety reasons.
The exchange comes months after the province announced a full-time return-to-office requirement for Ontario Public Service employees, a policy that has drawn criticism for not accounting fully for severe weather and other real-world conditions.
Labour representatives and some staff say the episode highlights gaps between broad workplace directives and on-the-ground safety decisions. Managers may have discretion, they argue, but that discretion needs clearer parameters and more proactive communication to protect employees during extreme weather.
The ministry confirmed the email originated within its ranks, and government spokespeople reiterated that managers have the authority to grant temporary remote work in extenuating circumstances. Unions want a written, system-wide inclement weather policy that does not force employees to choose between their safety and their leave entitlements.
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