Since the Ottawa-Gatineau area is home to so many federal government workers, there are a lot of questions about what that move\u00a0\u2014 plus a separate, larger\u00a015-per-cent cut across the\u00a0federal government\u00a0\u2014\u00a0might mean for the region.<\/p>\n
“It would be a hit to our labour market. We could see a lot of talent flight as well,” said Mallory Clyne, director of advocacy and economic development at the Ottawa Board of Trade.<\/p>\n
She believes\u00a0there are\u00a0still a lot of unknowns about what the cost-cutting measures could mean for the region.<\/p>\n
“We want to know what the plan is to ensure these residents are reabsorbed into the labour market or can transfer into new roles, or\u00a0that our city is\u00a0going to have a diverse economy that involves many different employers and different sectors outside of just the public sector,” Clyne said.<\/p>\n
Thousands of\u00a0jobs potentially on the line<\/p>\n
With just under 154,000 public servants living in the National Capital Region, Clyne said a conservative five- or six-per-cent cut could affect around 9,000 people.<\/p>\n
That type of dramatic job loss could take its toll on home sales, property taxes and transit ridership, among other things, Clyne said.<\/p>\n
She expects if thousands of jobs\u00a0are cut over the coming years, only\u00a050 per cent of employees\u00a0could be reabsorbed into other roles and industries, whereas people in the remaining half might leave the region.<\/p>\n
At the same time, it’s a “wait and see” scenario because some departments may find administrative cuts and efficiencies in program\u00a0spending\u00a0which could lower the overall numbers, Clyne added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/sean-o-reilly-pipsc.JPG\")
Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada president Sean O’Reilly says he’s worried about what the cuts to the Public Health Agency of Canada could mean if Canada faces another public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. (Sean Kilpatrick\/The Canadian Press)<\/p>\n
Sean O’Reilly, president of the Professional Institute of Public Service Canada, was\u00a0left reeling after hearing about the coming cuts and said\u00a0PHAC “helped us get through the pandemic.”<\/p>\n
“You’re cutting the public health agency.\u00a0Who is supposed to be our front line of defence?” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I look just south of the border and I look at all the cuts that have been made down there and how some of those services have\u00a0been impacted.”<\/p>\n
![\"Fran\u00e7ois-Philippe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/question-period-20250617.jpg\")
Fran\u00e7ois-Philippe Champagne, the minister of National Revenue, says there are difficult decisions to be made when it comes to employee cuts. (Justin Tang\/The Canadian Press)’Everyone here is stressed’<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Fran\u00e7ois-Philippe Champagne,\u00a0the minister of National Revenue, said there are some “tough choices ahead.”<\/p>\n
“But at the same time,” he added,\u00a0“we’re going to be a paddock to make sure that we’re always there for Canadians.”<\/p>\n