The Public Health Agency of Canada is reducing its staff by approximately 10% as part of its ongoing efforts to downsize following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A spokesperson for the agency mentioned that due to the need to focus resources on government-funded priorities and adjust to new salary allocations, certain programs will be reprioritized, streamlined, or discontinued.
Although the exact number of job cuts is not yet finalized, it is estimated that around 320 positions will be affected, with notifications to affected employees expected to be sent out in the coming week. These reductions come in addition to previous cuts made earlier this year, with the agency’s current workforce standing at just over 3,000 employees.
The agency emphasized that the decisions regarding job cuts are being made thoughtfully, with the goal of moving forward with a renewed emphasis on sustainability and public health impact. Prior to 2020, the Public Health Agency of Canada employed more than 2,300 individuals, a number that nearly doubled to over 4,200 employees in 2022.
It is clarified that the recent job cuts are unrelated to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plans to reduce public sector spending ahead of the fall budget. Carney had previously requested federal ministers to propose ambitious savings measures for their respective departments and programs earlier this summer.
As the Prime Minister’s cabinet convenes this week in the Greater Toronto Area in preparation for Parliament’s return later this month, discussions are expected to center around the upcoming federal budget, which is anticipated to be unveiled in October. Carney, during the election campaign, committed to balancing the operating budget over the next three years, increasing defence spending significantly, and investing in major infrastructure projects.
In a statement, Carney described the upcoming budget as a combination of austerity and investment, highlighting the importance of financial discipline to achieve these dual objectives.
