Layoffs confirmed at National Research Council facility in Winnipeg

The National Research Council Facility is laying off 12 employees under a federal government plan to reduce public service employee numbers.

The National Research Council is the latest public service agency to confirm layoffs amid a cost-saving exercise from the federal government.

The Research Council Employee Association (RCEA) confirmed to CTV News that 12 positions at the Medical Devices Research Centre in Winnipeg have been laid off. A spokesperson with the association said 10 of the positions are in the scientific, research, or technical departments, while two positions are building support staff.

“This will obviously harm medical research in Canada. Reductions in science harm long term growth in Canada, as we risk getting left behind as technology advances,” said Bernard Holbrook, the president of RCEA, in a statement.

“These cuts will make Canada more reliant on the United States and other countries, and there is clear risk in being reliant on others.”

Holbrook said the research centre helped with research during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, noting they tested N95 respirators to allow Canadian testing, as the closure of the U.S.-Canada border meant they couldn’t access U.S. facilities.

The research centre is the latest public service facility to confirm layoffs as the Liberal government works to reduce the size of the federal public services by 28,000 positions by 2029.

Earlier this week, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights confirmed seven people have been laid off.