Parks Canada to cut 500 jobs, 2,917 told roles at risk

Parks Canada expects to eliminate the equivalent of 500 full-time jobs across the country as part of a “workforce adjustment,” the federal agency confirmed to CBC News on Thursday.

Nearly 3,000 employees were notified this week that their jobs are at risk, according to a memo sent to staff and posted online on Tuesday. The union representing workers has said 2,917 people received an “affected” letter, close to two-thirds of the agency’s workforce.

An affected letter does not necessarily mean a layoff. It can signal that a position may no longer be required, is being discontinued or changed, or will be relocated. Affected staff can be moved into vacant positions or receive an “opting” letter, which means they will be laid off. Those let go have rights under the collective agreement between Parks Canada and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), including the ability to swap jobs with an unaffected employee who is willing to leave.

Andrew Campbell, Parks Canada’s interim president and CEO, told employees the agency is using “every means we have to minimize the number of team members who may need to involuntarily leave.” He said a large number of staff were notified so that more employees will have the chance to leave by choice. The reductions will happen over the coming months, but the exact timeline is unclear.

The restructuring follows the federal government’s comprehensive expenditure review, which requires Parks Canada to absorb nearly $145 million in budget reductions over three years. Some programs will be scaled back or discontinued. Campbell said in June that attrition alone would not be enough to meet the targets.

Krysty Thomas, PSAC’s Prairie regional executive vice-president, called the cuts “disappointing,” especially after the rollout of the free Canada Strong Pass. “As the federal government encourages more Canadians to visit, they must ensure that the parks have the staffing and resources to serve them safely,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the uncertainty weighs heaviest on about 375 Parks Canada employees who are still helping Jasper recover from the 2024 wildfire, which destroyed a third of the townsite and 20 per cent of Parks Canada assets in the park. “They’re continuing to help build our community and now they’re worried about the security of their own jobs,” she said.

A Parks Canada spokesperson said decisions on all positions being assessed will be made over the coming weeks, and that more information on how the changes affect the Jasper field unit will be shared as soon as possible. The spokesperson said “responsible choices are being made so that programs and services can be delivered smarter, faster and more effectively for all Canadians.”

The cuts come as PSAC prepares for a larger fight with Ottawa. Canada News Media reported earlier that the union has set strike votes for 120,000 federal workers, and has also looked at how Ottawa spends $18M on offices while cutting jobs.

Via CBC News: Parks Canada plan to cut 500 jobs draws criticism from union.

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