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Jan 21, 2025 5:03 PM - The Canadian Press

Canada’s Immigration Department Announces Plan to Cut 3,300 Jobs

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The unions say more information is expected in mid-February but that the cuts were brought up in a union-management meeting before staff were notified.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced plans to cut approximately 3,300 jobs over the next three years, representing about a quarter of its workforce. The department says the move is aimed at reducing costs to align with lower immigration levels and returning staff numbers to pre-COVID levels.

On Monday, the department informed employees via email about the budget cuts and their potential impact on staff. However, it remains unclear which employees will be affected. Notifications to impacted employees are expected to begin in mid-February.

IRCC also stated that some fixed-term contracts may be terminated early, with affected employees receiving at least 30 days’ notice. According to the Treasury Board, IRCC had 13,100 employees as of March 2024. A 25% reduction would bring staffing levels closer to those of 2021.

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