Friday, July 17, 2026
AMAPCEO President Dave Bulmer wrote letters to the Employers of several AMAPCEO Bargaining Units as well as the Treasury Board Secretariat, calling on them to allow AMAPCEO members to work from home until at least July 24, due to the current “high risk” air quality warning issued by Environment Canada, and to institute a broader remote work policy that would apply whenever the air quality warning reaches “moderate risk or higher.’’
In the letters, AMAPCEO notes that, at the time of writing, there are 176 active fires in Ontario, with 62 classified as out of control. Toronto is ranked as second most polluted global major city in the world, with similar air quality warnings in effect across Ontario, including Thunder Bay, Kingston, London, and Windsor.
Wildfires like the one raging across Ontario are a large contributor of particulate matter, a pollutant that poses significant risk to public health in the short and long term, especially for those with preexisting health issues.
Environment Canada has directed everyone in affected areas to avoid going outdoors as much as possible. As a result, AMAPCEO is calling on employers allow all employees who are able to work remotely to do so, and to provide N95 masks to those who are not. AMAPCEO is also calling for a default remote work policy for all days when a moderate risk or higher air quality warning is issued.
On behalf of members, AMAPCEO sent a letter to the following employers:
- College of Midwives of Ontario
- Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario
- Invest Ontario
- Office of the Ontario Ombudsman
- Ontario Arts Council
- Ontario Health
- Ontario Public Service
- Public Health Ontario
- Supply Ontario
- Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care.