Ottawa, October 22, 2026 - The Association of Justice Counsel (AJC), representing more than 3,500 federal lawyers and prosecutors, notaries and articling students, is pleased to announce that the exemption from the four-day onsite requirement at Justice Canada’s Ontario Regional Office (ORO) has been extended until January 29, 2027, following the AJC’s request.

We raised the issue directly with the department’s new Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, pressing for the exemption to remain in place given the office’s ongoing space constraints. The extension responds to that request and is a positive outcome for affected members.

“This is a welcome result for our members. We brought their concerns directly to senior management and asked for this extension. The employer must take workplace capacity into account when making decisions about onsite attendance.” said AJC President Gregory Harlow.

The extension provides clarity for the coming months, but the underlying space constraints still need to be addressed. We will continue to press the employer for workable arrangements and seek answers about what members can expect beyond January 29. 
 

ABOUT THE AJC

The Association of Justice Counsel (AJC) is the union defending Canada’s legal team. Our 3,500+ members are Federal Crown Counsel, notaries and articling students employed by the Government of Canada in the Department of Justice, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, and in various federal agencies, tribunals and courts across Canada.

MEDIA CONTACT

The Communications Department 
Association of Justice Counsel 
300–2725 Queensview Drive 
Ottawa, ON, Canada 
K2B 0A1

Phone: (613) 798-9900 
Toll-Free: (866) 218-3310 
Fax: (613) 564-0606 
Email: admin@ajc-ajj.ca

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