Major workforce reductions hit multiple federal departments this week, with employees at Shared Services Canada and Statistics Canada among those receiving layoff notices while outside consultants continue working alongside them.
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada said the cuts affect workers at Statistics Canada, Shared Services Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Canada Economic Development for Québec, and the Treasury Board Secretariat.
“We are hearing directly from members that consultants are still working alongside employees who received layoff notices this week,” said Sean O’Reilly, president of PIPSC, in a statement.
Part of broader expenditure review
The reductions are part of the government’s Comprehensive Expenditure Review, with additional job losses expected in coming weeks.
PIPSC represents over 85,000 public-sector professionals, most employed by the federal government.
Consultant costs versus public servant salaries
The union said consultants cost at least 26 percent more than public servants performing equivalent work.
“If you are trying to save money, you do not lay off trained, experienced workers and pay someone else more to do the same job,” said O’Reilly.
Concerns about service delivery
The union said the cuts reduce capacity for cybersecurity, evidence-based decision-making, and service delivery across affected departments.
Federal scientists and researchers planned to gather at the Delta Hotel at 2:45 p.m. ET today and march to Parliament Hill to demonstrate against cuts to federal science and the public service.
