Thousands of federal employees have been informed that their jobs may be at risk as the government moves forward with plans to reduce the public service workforce, according to CBC News. The notices, known as “workforce adjustment notices” (WFA), signal significant changes to most employees’ roles.
The downsizing initiative follows a comprehensive spending review conducted by the Liberal government in 2025. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s budget announcement detailed the intention to slash 16,000 full-time equivalent positions from the federal bureaucracy over a three-year period. By 2029, the federal workforce is projected to shrink to 333,000 employees, a decrease of 40,000 positions from its peak in 2024.
The impending job cuts have raised concerns in Ottawa and Gatineau, where nearly half of the federal workforce is concentrated. Specific departments targeted for reductions have not been disclosed publicly, and affected employees are awaiting official notification.
CBC News is actively verifying information from various departments and public service unions. Updates on the latest numbers and developments are being tracked and will be reported as they become available.
Here are some key findings so far:
– Canadian Food Inspection Agency: 1,371 employees received notices, with 587 jobs set to be eliminated.
– Public Health Agency of Canada: No workforce adjustment impacts reported due to a separate transition process.
– Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency: 82 employees were notified of job risks out of 579 total positions.
– Library and Archives Canada: 96 employees received notices out of 1,138 workers.
– Department of Justice: 382 notices sent, affecting 5,608 employees.
– Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions: 85 employees received notices out of 1,256 staff members.
– Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada: 39 employees and two executives at risk, aiming to cut 29 positions.
– Privy Council Office: 221 employees and 18 executives received notices, targeting 126 positions for reduction.
– Global Affairs Canada: 3,295 employees and 406 executives at risk, with potential elimination of 543 positions.
– Public Safety Canada: 589 employees and 61 executives face job risks, with plans to cut 357 positions.
– Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: 1,036 employees and seven executives received notices, looking to eliminate 507 positions.
– Environment and Climate Change Canada: 998 employees and 37 executives at risk, aiming to cut 594 positions.
– Fisheries and Oceans Canada: 507 employees and 25 executives received notices, with plans to eliminate 290 positions.
– Canada School of Public Service: 17 employees and three executives notified of job risks.
– Canadian Heritage: 344 employees and eight executives at risk, with 120 positions targeted for reduction.
– Health Canada: 2,052 employees and 36 executives face job risks, with plans to eliminate 1,092 positions.
– Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: 406 employees and 10 executives received notices, aiming to reduce 166 positions.
– Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions: Two employees facing potential job changes out of 371 total staff.
– Canada Revenue Agency: 655 employees received notices, with 52,499 total employees.
– Transport Canada: 1,520 employees and 50 executives at risk, seeking to reduce 1,303 positions.
– Innovation, Science and Economic Development: 1,133 notices sent, including 32 executives, with plans to eliminate 592 jobs.
– Employment and Social Development Canada: 3,028 employees and 47 executives at risk, targeting 970 positions.
– Canadian Museum of History and Canadian War Museum: Implementing permanent staff cuts by 18% over three years.
– Public Services and Procurement Canada: 1,153 job cuts planned, impacting 984 employees and 39 executives.
– Treasury Board Secretariat: 293 notices sent, including 27 to executives, with 2,374 total employees.
– Shared Services Canada: 1,290 notices sent, affecting 49 executive positions for a total of 1,339 positions.
– Statistics Canada: 3,274 notices issued for job cuts, affecting 940 employees and 1,906 members.
– Natural Resources Canada: 678 employees received notices, with 6,044 total staff members.
– Public Service Commission of Canada: 42 employees at risk, targeting 38 positions out of 803 employees.
– Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada: 173 employees and 13 executives facing job risks, impacting 1,892 total employees.
– Department of Finance: 82 employees at risk, with 963 total employees affected.