Nearly 15,000 full-time equivalent positions will be cut in federal departments over the next three years, as part of the federal government’s plan to find $60 billion in savings by 2029. The Canada Strong Budget 2025, released in November, outlined a plan to reduce the size of the federal public service by 28,000 positions by 2029, including 16,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions eliminated through the comprehensive expenditure review. Departments were directed to find up to 15 per cent savings in their budgets over a three-year period. The 2026-27 departmental plans, released by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat earlier this month, show how departments will achieve their spending reductions between 2026-27 and 2028-29, and how many full-time equivalent positions will be cut at federal departments. According to the plans, 14,908 full-time equivalent positions will be eliminated at 55 departments over the next three years. Public Services and Procurement Canada will see the highest number of full-time equivalent positions eliminated over the next three years, with 1,793 positions eliminated, according to the departmental plan. The department must find $446 million in savings over the next three years. According to the departmental plan, Employment and Social Development will eliminate 1,500 FTE positions as part of its plan to achieve $1.45 billion in savings by 2028-29. The department says it will implement a new Digital Roadmap to “better harness technology, such as leveraging artificial intelligence,” modernize Service Canada and streamline program delivery and administrative functions. Statistics Canada says it will eliminate over 700 full-time equivalent positions over the next three years, while 942 positions will be cut at Health Canada. Other departments seeing a significant number of job cuts include 837 positions at Environment and Climate Change Canada, 665 positions eliminated at Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada, 551 positions at Fisheries and Oceans Canada and 542 jobs at the Canada Food Inspection Agency. The Correctional Service of Canada says it will reduce “fewer than 850 full-time equivalent” positions by 2028-29. The departmental plans also outline how each federal department will achieve the budget savings, including using artificial intelligence, streamlining program and administrative functions, winding down programs, reducing funds, and cutting back on external contractors. The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) warns the departmental plans outline “large reductions to the expert workforce responsible for protecting public service, supporting key industries, and delivering national programs.” “Many of the positions being reduced are scientists, inspectors, engineers, analysts and technical specialists whose work quietly underpins the systems Canadians depend on every day,” the union said. “These are the experts who test and inspect the food that appears on grocery store shelves. They are the scientists who track emerging agricultural diseases before they devastate crops or livestock. They are the engineers and inspectors who help ensure transportation systems are safe and resilient.” Data provided by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, federal departments and unions show more than 26,000 public servants have received notices their jobs could be at risk. A spokesperson for Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali told CTV News Ottawa the workforce adjustments will be managed “to the greatest extent possible” through attrition and early departures. “The Early Retirement Initiative is proceeding with an emphasis on voluntary, structured options to retire early with clarity and predictability,” the spokesperson said in a statement on Monday. “Through this initiative, approximately 68,000 public servants received notifications that they may be eligible to retire early with an immediate pension based on years of service, with no penalty for leaving early, subject to criteria set by the Treasury Board. We will continue to provide employees with updates on this work and the broader Comprehensive Expenditure Review as they become available.” There were 357,965 federal public servants in March 2025, down from 367,772 employees in March 2024, according to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Job cuts by department CTV News Ottawa looks at how many full-time equivalent (FTE) positions will be eliminated in each department, based on the departmental plans, and how many notices were issued to employees that their jobs may be at risk, according to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. The Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Canada Border Services Agency The Canada Border Services Agency had told CTV News Ottawa in February it would cut 348 positions that report to or are in the national headquarters in Ottawa. Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions Canada School of Public Service Canada Water Agency Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safe Canadian Food Inspection Agency The departmental plan says the reduction in FTEs from 6,728 in 2026-28 to 5,226 in 2028-29 is associated with the comprehensive expenditure review. Canadian Heritage Canadian Human Rights Commission The departmental plan shows the number of FTE positions at the Canadian Human Rights Commission will decrease from 283 in 2024-25 to 267 positions in 2026-27 and 254 positions in 2028-29 due to the implementation of the comprehensive expenditure review reductions. Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency The departmental plan shows the FTE positions will drop from 130 in 2025-26 to 103 FTE positions in 2028-29. Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission Canadian Space Agency Correctional Service of Canada The Correctional Service of Canada had reported plans to cut 295 employees and seven executives through workforce adjustments. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada Department of Finance Department of Justice Employment and Social Development Canada Environment and Climate Change Canada The departmental plan says a decrease in FTEs at the department is also linked to a decrease in funding and “sunsetting initiatives with temporary funding.” Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Fisheries and Oceans Canada Global Affairs Canada The departmental plan says the number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) at Global Affairs are projected to decrease by 887 positions from 2026-27 to 2028-29 due to the comprehensive expenditure review and the sunsetting of funds. According to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, 483 employees and 60 executive positions will be cut through workforce adjustment. Another 397 positions will be eliminated through attrition and early retirement. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada The departmental plan says the number of full-time equivalent positions will decline by 1,440 FTEs over the next three years, “primarily driven by the conclusion of several temporary funding and restrictive fiscal measures.” Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Indigenous Services Canada The departmental plan says Indigenous Services Canada is currently finalizing its approach to achieving savings under the comprehensive expenditure review. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Invest in Canada Library and Archives Canada National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces The departmental plan says no job losses are anticipated as a result of spending reductions under the comprehensive expenditure review. The number of employees at DND and the Canadian Armed Forces is expected to rise to 107,706 by 2028-29. National Film Board National Research Council of Canada National Security and Intelligence Agency Secretariat Natural Resources Canada The departmental plan shows the number of positions will drop from 5,401 in 2026-27 to 4,693 in 2028-29. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council The departmental plan says the department is finalizing a plan to achieve savings under the comprehensive expenditure review. Office of the Correctional Investigator Pacific Economic Development Canada Parks Canada The departmental plan says the spending reductions under the comprehensive expenditure review “will have dan impact on team members and positions, however, Parks Canada will prioritize attrition and reassignment.” Parole Board of Canada The Parole Board of Canada told CTV News Ottawa on Feb. 2 that 37 positions would be eliminated. Patented Medicine Prices Review Board Prairies Economic Development Canada Privy Council Office Public Health Agency of Canada Public Safety Canada Public Service Commission Public Services and Procurement Canada The departmental plan shows the number of full-time equivalent positions will decrease by 4,520 FTEs between 2026-27 and 2028-29 due to an end in funding to stabilize pay operations and decrease the backlog of pay issues and “realignment with funding levels following government spending reductions.” According to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s website, 722 employee and 39 executive positions will be eliminated through workforce adjustment. Another 329 positions will be cut through attrition and early retirement. Royal Canadian Mounted Police The departmental plan shows the government’s planned staffing is expected to increase by 587 full-time equivalent positions in 2026-27, and increase by 365 positions and 198 employees over the next two years. The RCMP told CTV News Ottawa in March it would cut 76 positions at its national headquarters in Ottawa. Secretariat of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Shared Services Canada According to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s website, 448 employee and 29 executive positions will be eliminated through the comprehensive expenditure review. Statistics Canada According to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s website, Statistics Canada will release 764 positions through workforce adjustment. Another 123 employee and 13 executive positions will be eliminated through attrition and early retirement. Transport Canada According to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s website, 439 employee and 27 executive positions will be eliminated through workforce adjustment. Another 134 employee and seven executive positions will be cut through attrition and early retirement. Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat National Battlefields Commission
