Federal departments begin notifying public servants of possible job cuts

Federal unions say recently announced job cuts at Statistics Canada could lead to gaps in data that Canadians rely upon. CTV’s Austin Lee reports.

Federal departments have started notifying public servants that their jobs may be impacted by workforce adjustments, as the federal government begins to implement its plans to cut 28,000 jobs over the next four years.

Statistics Canada confirmed on Monday that it will cut 850 positions over the next two years, including 100 positions eliminated immediately this week, and Shared Services Canada told CTV News Ottawa it has begun notifying employees about potential cuts.

“We are in the process of notifying employees and executives that their position is affected and may no longer be required,” a spokesperson for Shared Services Canada told CTV News Ottawa in an email Tuesday evening.

“We are unable to share the number of employees who will be receiving letters until we have finished this process.”

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) said in an email that 737 of its members at Shared Services Canada are affected, many of whom are IT workers.

The union warned trimming IT jobs could put services and cybersecurity at risk.

“Outsourcing core IT functions increases the risk of system outages and service disruptions, delaying access to government websites and services Canadians rely on,” PIPSC said. “Outsourcing cyber protection work can create security gaps and slow responses, increasing the risk of breaches affecting government programs and services.”

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) says employees will be notified on Wednesday and Thursday about potential job cuts.

“Yesterday, all Public Services and Procurement Canada employees received a message from the Deputies informing them that those with positions that are affected will receive a formal notice on January 14 and January 15, 2026,” a spokesperson for PSPC said.

“Out of respect for our employees, as this process is underway, we will not comment further.”

A spokesperson for Employment and Social Development Canada said a “workforce adjustment process and a reduction in our executive complement” will begin this month “to achieve our targets by the end of 2028-29.”

“We cannot confirm how many positions will be reduced at this time,” the spokesperson said.

“However, ESDC will continue to leverage attrition and workforce planning, aiming to minimize impacts on employees to the maximum possible extent. The goal of the process, wherever possible, will be to ensure continued employment for those who want to remain in the public service.”

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) says information has been provided to staff that it plans to “notify those whose positions may be affected” by the comprehensive expenditure review between Jan. 12 and 31.

“GAC is not in a position to provide an estimate number of notification letters being sent as decisions are being finalized,” a spokesperson said in an email Wednesday afternoon.

“However, like most departments, GAC will be sending affected letters to significantly more employees than the target number of positions to be eliminated. This is to allow more employees to take advantage of voluntary departure programs, and reduce the number of involuntary departures.”

In December, Natural Resources Canada said 700 employees received letters to “inform them that their position will or may be impacted.” Approximately 400 jobs will be cut at the department over the next four years.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada have previously told CTV News Ottawa that employees will be notified in January if their positions may be affected by the comprehensive expenditure review.

Federal unions have said its members have received notices their jobs may be affected, including 74 at the Department of Finance, 157 at the Public Service Commission of Canada, 94 at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and 19 at the Privy Council Office.

The government has also issued early retirement notices to approximately 68,000 public servants outlining information on the planned early retirement program.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer released a report last week saying 1,927 full-time equivalent positions will be eliminated at five departments over the next four years, with the report focusing on Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Correctional Service of Canada, Canada Food Inspection Agency, Canada Economic Development for the Quebec Regions and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

The Canada Strong Budget 2025 outlined a plan to cut another 28,000 positions from the federal public service over the next four years and find $60 billion in savings.

The goal is to reduce the size of the federal public service by 40,000 jobs through job cuts, attrition, and early retirements, from its peak of 367,772 employees in March 2024, to 330,000 by 2028-29. There were 357,965 federal employees as of March 31, 2025.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Ted Raymond and Austin Lee