More than 8,000 jobs to be cut across 24 federal departments

According to new information, 8,200 employee positions and over 400 management positions will be cut from the public service. CTV’s Kimberley Fowler reports.

More than 8,000 jobs will be cut across 24 departments in the core public service, as part of the federal government’s plan to reduce the size of the federal public service by 28,000 positions by 2029.

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat released information on workforce reductions on Friday, outlining plans to reduce the size of 24 departments in the core public service by 15,755 employees and 642 executive positions through workforce adjustments, attrition and early retirement.

The Canada Strong Budget 2025, released in November, outlined plans to reduce the size of the federal public service from 367,772 employees in March 2024, to 330,000 by 2028-29. There were 357,965 federal employees as of March 31, 2025.

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As part of the plan, the government said it would eliminate 16,000 full-time equivalent positions, including 650 executive positions, through the comprehensive expenditure review, while 12,000 positions, including 350 executive positions, will be eliminated through attrition and early retirement packages.

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The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat released data showing 8,230 non-management positions and 425 management positions will be eliminated by the 24 departments as part of the federal expenditure review, while 7,525 positions and 217 executive positions will be eliminated through attrition and early retirement.

Federal departments began issuing notices to public servants in December that their jobs could be at risk due to the comprehensive expenditure review. Data provided by three federal unions show more than 30 federal departments and museums have issued notices over the past two months.

A total of 22,181 federal employees and 882 executives have received notices to warn their jobs may be affected by workforce adjustments.

Health Canada is set to reduce the greatest number of employees through workforce adjustment, with 1,056 employees and 36 managers to be cut. At Employment and Social Development Canada, 931 employees and 39 management positions will be cut through the comprehensive expenditure review, while up to 5,300 positions will be eliminated through the workforce adjustment, attrition and early retirement.

The data does not include federal departments outside the core public service. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said 587 positions will be cut, while the Canadian Museum of History and Canadian War Museum plans to cut 67 positions.

Here is a look at the number of positions that will be cut in each department in the core public service.

Employment and Social Development Canada

The federal government plans to reduce the size of Employment and Social Development Canada by 5,313 workers and 98 executives through workforce adjustment, attrition and early retirement.

The statistics show 931 employees and 39 executives will be cut as part of the comprehensive expenditure review.

Notices were issued to 3,032 employees and 47 managers in January.

Health Canada

Health Canada will reduce its workforce by 1,056 employees and 36 executives through the comprehensive expenditure review.

A total of 2,052 employees and 406 executives received notices their jobs may be affected in January.

Public Services and Procurement Canada

Public Services and Procurement Canada will see the size of the workforce reduced by 1,022 employee and 68 executive positions through attrition, early retirement and workforce adjustment.

According to the Treasury Board, 722 employees and 39 executive positions will be cut through the comprehensive expenditure review. Notices were issued to 1,114 employees and 39 executives in January.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada will reduce the size of its workforce by 901 employees and 45 executives through attrition, early retirement and workforce adjustment.

As part of the comprehensive expenditure review, 569 employees and 23 executives will lose their jobs, according to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

The department issued notices to 1,101 employees and 32 executives in January to warn their jobs may be affected.

Statistics Canada

A total of 887 employee positions and 13 management positions will be eliminated at Statistics Canada through workforce adjustment, early retirement and attrition. A total of 764 positions will be cut through the comprehensive expenditure review.

In January, affected notices were issued to 3,274 employees at Statistics Canada.

Environment and Climate Change Canada

The size of Environment and Climate Change Canada will be reduced by 801 employees and 37 managers through workforce adjustment, attrition and early retirement.

The Treasury Board says a total of 565 employees and 29 executive positions will be eliminated through the comprehensive expenditure review.

A total of 998 employees and 37 managers received notices their jobs may be affected.

Natural Resources Canada

The size of Natural Resources Canada will be reduced by 785 employees and 22 executives through workforce adjustment, attrition and early retirement.

A total of 433 employees and 12 executive positions will be cut as part of the workforce adjustment.

According to the government, affected notices were issued to 678 employees and 10 executives.

Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada will see 780 employee and 60 executive positions eliminated through attrition, early retirement and workforce adjustment.

The Treasury Board says 25 executive and 483 employee positions will be cut as part of the comprehensive expenditure review.

Notices were issued to 3,295 employees and 406 executives in January.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat says 724 employee and 43 management positions will be cut at Fisheries and Oceans Canada through attrition, early retirement and the workforce adjustment.

As part of the comprehensive expenditure review, 25 executives and 265 employee positions will be cut at the department.

Shared Services Canada

The size of the workforce at Shared Services Canada will be reduced by 699 employees and 29 executives.

The Treasury Board says 448 employees and 29 executives will be eliminated through the comprehensive expenditure review.

Notices were issued to 1,290 employees and 49 executives in January that their jobs may be affected.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

A total of 649 employees and 16 management positions will be cut at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through workforce adjustment, attrition and early retirement.

According to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, 500 employee and seven executive positions will be cut as part of the comprehensive expenditure review.

The government issued notices to 1,036 employees and seven managers in January.

Transport Canada

Transport Canada’s workforce will be reduced by 573 employees and 34 executives through attrition, early retirement and workforce adjustment.

The Treasury Board says 439 positions and 27 executive positions will be cut through the comprehensive expenditure review.

In January, notices were issued to 1,520 employees and 50 executives.

Public Safety Canada

The size of Public Safety Canada will be reduced by 346 employees and 31 executives through the workforce adjustment, attrition and early retirement.

According to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, 326 employees and 31 executives will be cut through the comprehensive expenditure review.

Notices were issued to 589 employees and 61 executives in January.

Privy Council Office

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat said the size of the Privy Council Office will be reduced by 157 non-management and 22 executive positions through workforce adjustment, attrition and early retirement. The government said 118 employees and eight executive positions will be cut as part of the comprehensive expenditure review.

The government said notices were issued to 221 employees and 18 executives.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will see the size of the workforce reduced by 310 employees and 10 executives through attrition, early retirement and workforce adjustment.

A total of 156 employees and 10 executive positions will be cut through the comprehensive expenditure review.

In January, 406 employees and 10 executives received notices their jobs may be affected.

Treasury Board Secretariat

The Treasury Board Secretariat will eliminate 262 employee positions and 32 executive positions through attrition, early retirement and workforce adjustment.

A total of 183 employees and 19 executives will lose their jobs through the comprehensive expenditure review.

Notices were issued in January to 293 employees and 27 executives.

Canadian Heritage

The size of Canadian Heritage will be reduced by 165 positions and 15 executives through workforce adjustment, attrition and early retirement, according to the government.

A total of 112 employees and eight executives will be cut as part of the comprehensive expenditure review.

The department issued notices to 344 employees and eight executives in January.

Department of Finance Canada

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat says 79 employees and 17 executive positions will be reduced in the department through the comprehensive expenditure review, attrition and early retirement. That total includes 38 employees and two executives eliminated through the workforce adjustment.

Public Health Agency of Canada

The Public Health Agency of Canada will see 53 positions eliminated through attrition and early retirement.

Health Canada told CTV News Ottawa that no notices had been issued under the workforce adjustment.

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

A total of 65 positions will be reduced at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, including 41 positions through workforce adjustment.

The department issued notices to 82 employees in January.

Canada School of Public Service

The Canada School of Public Service plans to reduce the size of the department by 54 employees and 12 executives, including 16 non-management and three management positions through workforce adjustment.

A total of 20 notices were issued to employees in January.

Public Service Commission of Canada

The Public Service Commission of Canada will reduce the size of its workforce by 40 positions, including 38 through workforce adjustment.

The government said 42 employees received notices in December that their jobs may be affected.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat said 13 positions will be eliminated as part of the workforce adjustment.

Thirteen executives and 173 employees received affected notices in December.

Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada

A total of 27 employees and two management positions will be eliminated as part of workforce adjustment. The department issued notices to 39 employees and two executives in January.

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