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Over 600 public servants were notified this week that their jobs are on the line, with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) feeling the brunt of the potential cuts. <\/p>\n
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) said in a news release that 219 workers at NRCan received warning that their position could be cut.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In addition, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) told Radio-Canada that 200 of its members at NRCan were also given notices of a potential layoff.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe federal government\u2019s decision to cut critical research programs and scientific positions at Natural Resources Canada poses serious and avoidable risks to safety and security across the country,\u201d PIPSC president Sean O\u2019Reilly said in a statement.<\/p>\n
NRCan is implementing cost-cutting measures outlined in the federal budget, a spokesperson said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Employees were notified this week, the statement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cReceiving a letter signals the beginning of a process that takes several months for employees to consider various options available,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Affected employees can consider moving to another public service job, early retirement or private sector employment, the statement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the end, Natural Resources Canada would anticipate that only a small number of those who receive letters would leave involuntarily,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
‘Gutting the programs that protect us’<\/p>\n
NRCan also said 5,400 employees will continue to work on improving the country’s sustainability.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are no immediate layoffs nor are there any increased security or safety risks to the environment or Canadians because of these actions,\u201d NRCan said.<\/p>\n
But PSAC president Sharon DeSousa said the impending job losses mean that \u201cenvironmental protections will pay the price.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don’t build a stronger Canada by gutting the programs that protect us,\u201d DeSousa said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Additional notices were given to 109 workers at the Public Service Commission of Canada, 92 at Crown-Indigenous relations and 74 members at the Department of Finance, according to PSAC.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The notices are part of the government\u2019s plan to cut 30,000 jobs from the federal public service.\u00a0Earlier this week, the federal government announced it will send early retirement notices to roughly 68,000 workers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over 10,000 public servants have already been laid off this year, PSAC said.<\/p>\n
‘Very worried’<\/p>\n
Public service professionals ensure Canadians aren’t being \u201cput in harm’s way,\u201d according to O\u2019Reilly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost entire teams responsible for keeping Canadians safe are being eliminated \u2014 the vast majority not through attrition, not voluntarily, but via layoffs,\u201d O\u2019Reilly said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEliminating them makes Canadians less safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jean B\u00e9rub\u00e9, a forest pathologist at NRCan who is also a union rep for 3,000 federal research scientists, said he was informed his position is being eliminated.<\/p>\n
The federal government\u2019s cuts to the public service feel similar to those occurring south of the border under the second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s as if Canada is aligning themselves with what’s happening in the United States \u2014 cutting programs related to energy efficiency, greenhouse gases, climate change,\u201d B\u00e9rub\u00e9 said.<\/p>\n
B\u00e9rub\u00e9 said when he started his career, there were 15 forest pathologists working east of the Rockies, and by the time he leaves, it will have been reduced to one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Jean B\u00e9rub\u00e9 is a forest pathologist at NRCan whose position there is being eliminated. (Estelle C\u00f4t\u00e9-Sroka\/Radio-Canada)<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m very worried for the Canadian forest because eliminating forest protection positions clearly will find us in a bad position when new diseases and insects are being introduced,\u201d B\u00e9rub\u00e9 said.<\/p>\n
Forest protection programs are key to detecting and eliminating invasive species, especially in urban areas with major trading ports because it often introduces new diseases and insects, he said. <\/p>\n