More than 5,000 federal public service workers represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) received workforce adjustment notices this week, warning they may lose their jobs as the federal government accelerates deep cuts that will weaken critical public services.

The latest notices affect services that people across Canada rely on every day, from transportation safety to public health. 

“Public services aren’t just a budget line — they’re a lifeline for communities and families,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC national president. “While the government's planned cuts may appear to save money, make no mistake, we all pay the price through slower services, longer waits, and weaker programs.” 

Hardest-hit service areas this week 

• International affairs: 1,172 workers at Global Affairs Canada (GAC) 
• Transportation safety: 775 workers at Transport Canada 
• Economic development: 598 workers at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) 
• Health and environmental protection: 895 workers at Health Canada, 446 workers at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and workers 261 workers at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

Affected notices were also issued across other federal departments, including: 391 workers at Public Safety Canada, 303 workers at Canadian Heritage, 206 workers at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), 22 workers at the Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada, and 10 workers at the Canada School of Public Service.

These figures reflect only PSAC members. Other federal public service workers are also affected, and their respective unions have been notified. With more notices expected in the coming weeks, the federal government has yet to disclose which positions will be eliminated and how these cuts will impact specific programs and services.

Impacts on services

Nearly 9,400 PSAC members have received workforce adjustment notices since January 2025, including more than 6,500 this month alone. That doesn’t include the 5,500 term employees whose contracts were terminated early or not renewed. With the government planning to cut 30,000 more jobs, many more workers are expected to be affected this year. 

PSAC has developed a workforce adjustment tracker that will be refreshed every Monday morning with the previous week’s data. 

The Union of National Employees (UNE) represents nearly 2,000 PSAC-UNE members who received affected notices this week at GAC, ISED, and IRCC. 

“These are the services that keep the country functioning, often behind the scenes,” said Alex Silas, UNE trustee and PSAC national executive vice-president. “When you slash these jobs, it creates backlogs in immigration, slows economic programs, and makes every part of government work harder.” 

The Union of Health and Environment Workers (UHEW) represents more than 1,600 PSAC-UHEW members who received affected notices this week at Health Canada, ECCC, and DFO. 

“Cutting health and environmental protection jobs puts people at risk,” said Shimen Fayad, UHEW national president. “These workers protect public health, environmental ecosystems, and climate resilience. Fewer staff means weaker oversight, slower responses, and greater harm.” 

PSAC will continue to support affected members and push back against cuts that threaten both jobs and the services people depend on. The union has developed workforce adjustment resources to help members navigate this difficult process, including FAQs, a member guide, a flow chart, and an informational video.