Luc Gagnon Will Work Remotely

The Canadian federal government is about to welcome a new Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Luc Gagnon, who will be working remotely despite recent policy shifts pushing public servants back to physical offices.

Gagnon, currently serving as the Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Digital Transformation Officer at Health Canada, is set to begin his new role on July 8. He succeeds Minh Doan, who has been on extended leave and faced controversy linked to the ArriveCan app scandal. Gagnon’s appointment is notable for its remote work arrangement, a point of irony given the government's recent policy updates on office attendance.

In May, the government revised its remote work policy, mandating that public servants must work in the office for at least three days a week by mid-September, with executives required to be on-site four days a week. The policy aims to bring consistency across the public service, eliminating previous exemptions for roles like call-center and IT positions. The transition to this policy will be phased, with full implementation expected by 2025.

Despite these mandates, Gagnon’s role as CTO will include a remote work component. He will be based in Montreal but is expected to visit the Ottawa office as needed. This exception highlights a perceived double standard, as many public servants have struggled to secure remote work arrangements due to the new policies. Nathan Prier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, criticized this inconsistency, arguing that the government’s stance on remote work appears to favor executives over other employees.

Gagnon, with over 30 years of experience in technology roles across Canada and internationally, brings significant expertise to his new position. His background includes serving as the first CTO at Shared Services Canada and holding leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. In a statement, Gagnon expressed his honor at being selected and indicated that his priorities will be set in consultation with the Treasury Board Secretariat.

This development underscores a broader debate about remote work in government, reflecting ongoing tensions between evolving work practices and established office norms.

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