All Federal Ministers to Collaborate in Identifying 5,000 Jobs for Elimination: Anand
Treasury Board President Anita Anand emphasizes that no government ministry or agency will be excluded from the process of eliminating 5,000 public-service positions.
Ms. Anand, who oversees much of the public service, states that all ministers will be required to participate in the cost-cutting initiative, not just the larger departments.
The 2024 budget, presented on Tuesday, outlines plans to reduce 5,000 positions through natural attrition, resulting in an expected savings of $4.2 billion over five years.
The primary union representing federal workers expresses concerns.
President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Chris Aylward, noted in a press release that with Canada’s increasing population, there is a need for more public-sector employees to address issues such as long wait times at borders and airports.
According to recent federal government data, the core public service consists of 357,247 workers, excluding the Armed Forces and RCMP.
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“We have observed a significant increase in the public service in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, where additional public servants were necessary to implement large-scale programs,” stated Ms. Anand as she headed into a caucus meeting on April 17.
“Our goal is simply to find ways to save money, reduce bureaucracy, and ensure that taxpayer funds are directed towards government priorities.”
