wo major federal public service unions are raising concerns after the Immigration Department announced plans to cut more than 3,300 jobs.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU) released a joint statement, criticizing the government’s decision and demanding more transparency about who will be impacted by the layoffs.
The unions claim the job cuts were mentioned during a union-management meeting before employees were formally notified. Specific details about which roles or regions will be affected remain unclear, with further information expected in mid-February.
“Staff in the Immigration Department are critical to processing citizenship and permanent residency applications, issuing passports, and conducting interviews,” the unions stated.
The unions are urging the federal government to focus on reducing external contracting costs instead of downsizing its workforce, arguing that contractors often charge more for services that could be handled internally.
Federal public service employees have been bracing for cuts since 2023, when the government launched an initiative to streamline federal spending. The Immigration Department’s downsizing appears to be part of this broader effort, though the unions argue it could have dire consequences for essential services.
PSAC and CEIU warned that reducing staff will likely lead to significant delays in processing immigration and citizenship applications, as well as disruptions in issuing passports and conducting interviews.
“This decision risks eroding the quality and timeliness of services Canadians and newcomers rely on,” the unions said, calling on the government to reconsider the cuts.
As the Immigration Department prepares for these layoffs, workers and their unions await further clarity on the extent of the cuts and their long-term implications. The unions continue to advocate for a reversal of the decision and a shift in focus to curbing external contracting expenses.