OTTAWA, ON – Hundreds of federal public servants received notices this week that their jobs are on the line as the government proceeds with cost-cutting measures outlined in the federal budget. The department feeling the brunt of the potential cuts is Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), with unions warning the decision jeopardizes critical environmental safety and research programs.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) reported that 219 of its members at NRCan received warning notices, while the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) stated an additional 200 of its members were also notified. This means over 400 scientific and technical positions at NRCan are currently at risk.
‘Gutting the Programs That Protect Us’
Union leadership immediately raised the alarm, arguing the job losses increase safety and security risks across the country:
- Scientific Capacity: PIPSC President Sean O’Reilly warned that the cuts “decimate capacity” at key units, including the Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation, which tracks wildfires, floods, and landslides.
- Environmental Protections: PSAC President Sharon DeSousa stated that “environmental protections will pay the price,” criticizing the government for “gutting the programs that protect us”.
- Arctic Sovereignty: The cuts also threaten Canada’s ability to monitor and map its vast Northern landmass, which is essential for asserting territorial rights and protecting Northern infrastructure.
NRCan, however, stated that 5,400 employees will continue to work on sustainability and that there are “no immediate layoffs nor are there any increased security or safety risks” because of these actions.
The Risk to Canada’s Forests
The most acute concern for resource-rich regions like British Columbia is the impact on forest monitoring. Cuts are eliminating positions integral to detecting and fighting deadly forest diseases and pests.
Jean Bérubé, a forest pathologist at NRCan, warned that the cuts are eliminating positions that protect the Canadian forest. He stated that when he started his career, there were 15 forest pathologists working east of the Rockies; by the time he leaves, that number will be reduced to one.
This loss of expertise leaves Canada vulnerable to invasive species, which often enter the country via major trading ports. Bérubé cited the Emerald ash borer, which has killed millions of ash trees, as an example of a devastating invasive species that could have gone undetected under such reduced staffing levels.
Widespread Federal Downsizing
The notices at NRCan are part of a broader government plan to reduce the size of the federal public service by approximately 40,000 jobs by 2029.
In addition to NRCan, job notices were also issued this week to 109 workers at the Public Service Commission, 92 at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), and 74 members at the Department of Finance.
NRCan has advised affected employees that receiving a letter signals the start of a multi-month process where they can explore options like moving to another public service job or early retirement, noting that they anticipate only a “small number” of involuntary departures. However, union leadership maintains that the vast majority of positions being eliminated will be via layoffs, not attrition.
