The head of the federal public service has announced that the government’s budget plan to reduce spending and increase investments will lead to the elimination of 40,000 jobs through program cutbacks. Michael Sabia, the Privy Council clerk, conveyed this message to federal employees in a memo following the release of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s inaugural budget. Sabia emphasized that the government’s commitment to slash $60 billion over five years will necessitate sacrifices, affecting individuals who serve the nation and their families. He acknowledged the significant impact of this decision on personnel and underscored the reality of the situation.
Sabia elaborated that in order to meet the government’s financial targets, certain programs will undergo scaling down or cessation while others will be entirely discontinued. Overall, approximately 40,000 positions within the public service sector will be phased out, with some reductions already in progress. These job reductions are contingent on the approval of the federal budget by Parliament later this month.
The Privy Council clerk assured that swift decisions will be made once the cuts commence to minimize prolonged uncertainty, and individuals affected by layoffs and early retirements will receive appropriate support.
