Federal government job cuts: Here's what we know

CBC News has confirmed that thousands of federal employees have received notice that their jobs could be in jeopardy following the government's promise in November's budget to shrink the public service.

Not everyone who receives a "workforce adjustment notice" (WFA) will get a pink slip, but most will see their jobs change significantly.

The notices come after the Liberal government conducted a wide-ranging spending review in 2025. Prime Minister Mark Carney's first budget then announced plans to shrink the bureaucracy by 16,000 full-time equivalent positions — which is not necessarily the same as 16,000 individuals — over three years.

That would shrink the federal workforce to 333,000 by 2029, a reduction of 40,000 positions from its peak in 2024.

The downsizing is a major preoccupation in Ottawa and Gatineau, where slightly less than half of the core federal workforce is based, and where many of those workers live.

The government has not publicly disclosed which departments it's targeting, nor has it said when the affected workers will be told.

That's why CBC News is working to confirm information from individual departments and public service unions. If you have a tip to share, please use the Google form embedded at the bottom of this story.

Here's what we can report so far, with the latest numbers and updates at the top. We'll update this file as soon as we know more.

Public Health Agency of Canada

On Jan. 23, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), a union representing scientists and other federal government workers, said 47 members at the Public Health Agency of Canada have received notices.

The agency boasted a workforce of 3,372 as of last year, according to the latest department-by-department workforce figures reported by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 37 members at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency have received a notice.

The agency had 579 employees as of last year.

Library and Archives Canada

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 96 members who work at Library and Archives Canada have received notices.

The organization was home to 1,138 workers as of last year.

Department of Justice

On Jan. 23, PIPSC said 133 members working at the Department of Justice have received notices.

The department had 5,608 employees as of last year.

Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 said that 85 members have received a WFA notice, out of a total 1,256 workers at that department.

Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 said that two of its members have received notice from the service.

It had 679 employees as of last year.

Privy Council Office

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 19 people who work at the Privy Council Office have received a notice.

A total of 1,208 people worked at the office as of last year.

Global Affairs Canada

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 477 of its members received WFA notices from Global Affairs Canada on Jan. 22.

The department had 7,657 employees as of last year.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 304 of its members have received notices from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The department had 5,690 employees as of last year.

Environment and Climate Change Canada

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 248 of its members have received notices from Environment and Climate Change Canada on Jan. 22.

The department had 8,778 employees as of last year.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 172 of its members received notices from Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Jan. 20.

The department had 14,451 employees as of last year.

Canada School of Public Service

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that one of its members received a WFA from the school on Jan. 19.

The school had 597 employees as of last year.

Canadian Heritage

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that one of its members received notice from Canadian Heritage on Jan. 22.

The department had 1,910 employees as of last year.

Health Canada

In a note that went out to Health Canada employees on Jan. 19 — and which was confirmed by CBC — the department said it would be making workforce adjustments including "reductions to our indeterminate workforce." The process will affect many parts of the organization including "the executive community," the department added.

CBC News confirmed on Jan. 21 that 1,056 job cuts are planned. Unlike many other departments, that is the number of jobs affected, not the number of notices.

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 708 of its members had received WFAs from Health Canada.

The department had 9,628 employees as of last March.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) said Thursday, Jan. 22, that 1,222 of its IRCC workers had received a notice.

On Jan. 23, PIPSC said 42 of its members have received workforce adjustment notices.

The department had 11,148 employees as of March 2025.

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that two of its members have learned from this agency (which had 371 employees as of last year) that their job situation might change too.

Canada Revenue Agency

As of Jan. 22, PSAC said 655 of its members at the CRA have received a notice, while on Jan. 23 PIPSC said 77 of its members have received a notice.

The agency had 52,499 employees as of last March.

Transport Canada

Notices have gone to 798 PSAC members at Transport Canada, the union said on Jan. 22.

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 235 of its members received notice on Jan. 20.

The department had 6,666 employees as of last March.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) confirmed on Jan. 15 that 1,100 employees will receive written notice indicating their positions are affected.

The department estimates 569 non-management positions and 45 management positions will be eliminated over the next three years.

On Jan. 23, PIPSC said 239 members received WFAs on Jan. 20.

ISED had 6,526 employees at the end of March 2025.

Employment and Social Development Canada

At ESDC, PSAC said 250 members had received a notice.

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 339 of its members were handed a WFA.

The department had 39,154 employees as of last March.

Canadian Museum of History and Canadian War Museum

The Canadian Museum of History confirmed on Jan. 19 it is implementing "staffing reductions," though it would not disclose figures.

"We will only be sharing information more publicly once internal announcements are complete," a museum spokesperson said.      

The Canadian War Museum is also reducing staff and also declined to provide numbers, saying: "Our priority now is the employees who will be affected."

Public Services and Procurement Canada

Public Services and Procurement Canada has issued 735 notices to PSAC members, that union said in an update on Jan. 22.

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 110 of its members got notices too.

PSPC had 18,936 employees as of last March.

Treasury Board Secretariat

PSAC said on Jan. 16 that the Treasury Board Secretariat has issued 125 notices to its members, while PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 65 of its members have received notices.

The department had 2,374 employees as of last March.

Shared Services Canada

PIPSC said on Jan. 14 that 737 members who work for Shared Services Canada have received notice.

PSAC said 530 of its members have also received word from the department.

Shared Services, which provides IT services and support across government, had a workforce of 8,894 in 2025.

Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada told employees on Jan. 12 that 850 positions will be eliminated from the department over the next two years. The agency had 7,274 employees at the end of March 2025.

In all, the department will send 3,274 workforce adjustment notices to employees whose services may no longer be needed. Most of the notices will be sent out by Jan. 27.

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 940 of its members were among those to receive notices by that time.

Natural Resources Canada

In December, PSAC said in a news release that 219 workers at NRCan received warning that their positions could be cut. 

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 199 of its members at the department had received notices of a potential layoff.

The department had 6,044 employees as of last March.

Public Service Commission of Canada

PSAC announced in December that 157 of its members could lose their jobs at the Public Service Commission of Canada as a result of the workforce adjustments.

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 that 48 of its members have received a WFA notice.

The agency had 803 employees as of last March.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

PSAC said 186 employees at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada were told in December about potential job losses.

PIPSC said on Jan. 23 said two of its members have received word too.

The department had 1,892 total employees as of last March.

Department of Finance

PSAC members at Finance learned in December that 74 positions could be eliminated. The department had 963 total employees as of last March.

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