Thousands of federal employees receive potential layoff notices

Federal public service employees across multiple departments have been notified that their positions could be affected by upcoming workforce reductions. The notices, often called workforce adjustment notices, signal that job cuts may be coming but do not confirm who will ultimately lose employment.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada reported that 1,775 of its members received notices last week. Affected employees work in areas including Public Services and Procurement Canada, Shared Services Canada, Statistics Canada, and the Treasury Board Secretariat.

Similarly, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada said 1,849 of its members were issued notices, describing the situation as forcing employees into a "Hunger Games-style fight for jobs."

The Canadian Association of Professional Employees noted that nearly 3,000 of its members have received workforce adjustment notices since the federal budget was released in November 2025. The group emphasized that the actual number of layoffs remains uncertain.

The notices come amid broader federal efforts to streamline government operations, prompting concerns from unions and public service advocates about the potential impact on employees and public services.