Toronto PATH businesses eye a rebound as major employers mandate four-day office returns despite remote workers’ reluctance, survey shows.
Major Banks Push Return to Office in Downtown Core
Several of Canada’s largest employers are mandating a return to in-office work in downtown Toronto, aiming for at least four days a week. Among them, TD Bank, Scotiabank, BMO, and RBC have issued office return policies starting this fall. Rogers Communications will require corporate employees to return four days a week by October, and full-time in-office work by February.
PATH Businesses See Opportunity for Recovery
Beneath the towering office blocks, over 1,200 small businesses operating in Toronto’s PATH pedestrian network — a 30-kilometre underground walkway — are welcoming the move. Many have been struggling with reduced foot traffic since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread adoption of hybrid work.
Jerry Li, who operates an INS convenience store in First Canadian Place, says small businesses like his rely entirely on in-person customers. “I can’t do online purchases or transactions. For small businesses and especially for me, more foot traffic would greatly benefit my business.”
Slow Return Highlights Changed Work Habits
Although businesses report improvement, foot traffic remains uneven throughout the week. Tuesday and Wednesday — the most common in-office days — see the biggest surges, while Mondays and Fridays remain relatively quiet.
Paul Fisher, president of Modern Golf in the PATH, noted a significant recovery trend. “From 2023 to 2024, we’ve noticed about a 100 per cent increase in foot traffic — and that trend has continued in 2025.”
Not a Return to Pre-Pandemic Norms
Urban design experts caution that a return to the office won’t mean a full return to pre-pandemic routines. Laura Miller, associate professor of architecture at the University of Toronto, says online shopping habits and new workplace expectations will continue to influence PATH business patterns.
“People have gotten used to buying clothes, lunch, and groceries online — things they once picked up during office breaks,” Miller noted.
Economic Stakes High for City Revenue
Giles Gherson, CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, argues that office reoccupancy is vital beyond small business recovery. Commercial property values — and by extension, the city’s tax base — are tied to how full these buildings are. “If vacancy rates stay high, property values fall, and the city loses tax revenue, which hurts public services,” he said.
Worker Resistance Still Strong
Despite the push from employers, many workers are hesitant. A late-July Angus Reid study found that 75% of people who’ve worked remotely prefer to stay home most of the time.
Jon Roe, a research associate at Angus Reid, said that while resistance is high, economic conditions may limit employee choice. “Compared to the last few years, the job market is now tilting more in favour of employers,” he said. Canada’s unemployment rate, while down slightly in July, hit a nine-year high in May — excluding pandemic spikes.
As employers double down on office mandates, PATH businesses and the city hope for a boost. But the evolving landscape of work means the road to recovery won’t be as direct as the underground walkways themselves.
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