Prime Minister Mark Carney has set an ambitious agenda to protect Canada, and we welcome it. His government is facing new and unprecedented challenges: economic uncertainty, global instability, trade disruptions, and threats to Canadian sovereignty. As King Charles III noted in the historic Speech from the Throne, "the world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since the Second World War."

The scale of the government's ambitions is impressive. From building the strongest economy in the G7 to doubling the rate of home construction, from eliminating internal trade barriers by Canada Day to cutting project approval times from 5 years to 2 – this is the kind of bold leadership Canada needs right now.

Ambition without capacity is just talk

But here's the reality: you can't deliver on more goals with fewer tools. The Throne Speech promises transformational change while simultaneously pledging to cap the public service and cut operating budgets. This contradiction undermines the government's own agenda.

Building a stronger, more resilient Canada means investing in the public service to succeed. Our members are the quiet force behind Canada's strength – dedicated professionals who protect the health, safety, and economic security of Canadians by building the systems we all rely on when times get tough.

Take the Major Federal Project Office, which will cut approval times in half while "upholding Canada's world-leading environmental standards." Who will staff these accelerated reviews? Scientists, engineers, policy analysts, and regulatory experts – the very public servants whose numbers the government plans to cap.

Public services: Canada's anchor in uncertain times

In a volatile world, the public service is Canada’s stabilizer. They are the engine behind our economy, our infrastructure, and our national security. They provide safety nets, protect public health, and ensure no one is left behind.

The Throne Speech acknowledges that "many Canadians are struggling to get ahead" and promises help through programs like the Canadian Dental Care Plan, Pharmacare, and child care. But these programs don't run themselves – they require skilled public servants to design, deliver, and improve them.

You cannot protect Canadians by weakening the institutions they rely on.

We've been here before – and we delivered

PIPSC members have a long history of stepping up in times of crisis. During COVID-19, our members were:

• Designing and delivering emergency benefit programs that kept families afloat
• Working in labs to develop mass COVID testing methods
• Keeping government systems running so Canadians could access support
• Training nurses to manage outbreaks and bringing Canadians home from abroad

Our expertise didn't just help manage the crisis – it helped lead the recovery.

This moment is no different. Whether it's implementing the new border security measures outlined in the Speech, supporting the creation of Build Canada Homes, or helping deliver on the promise to remove internal trade barriers, our members will be there.

Ready to partner for Canada's success

We're not just raising concerns – we're offering partnership. PIPSC members are ready to do their part to deliver on this ambitious agenda, just as we always have.

But that requires investment in people and services – not cuts, caps, or constraints. Prime Minister Carney's expanded cabinet shows the government understands the scope of the work ahead. Now they need to ensure the public service has the capacity to match that ambition.

We're here for Canada. Built to serve, ready to protect.

The question is: will the government give us the tools we need to deliver the Canada they've promised?

As of 12:01 AM this morning, the Chalk River Professional Employees Group (CRPEG) has officially commenced strike action against Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). 

Today, 20 CRPEG members from the bargaining and engagement teams have been pulled from work, while the remaining membership is conducting work-to-rule action. Tomorrow, we will begin picket lines at CNL facilities and targeted strike actions.

This strike action comes after more than a year without a collective agreement and follows the strongest strike mandate in CRPEG's history. More than 800 nuclear scientists and engineers at Chalk River have made it clear they will no longer accept inadequate compensation and healthcare benefits while continuing to perform vital work that serves all Canadians.

CRPEG members ensure the safe operation of nuclear reactors, support critical radioactive waste management and environmental remediation projects across Canada, and contribute to nuclear medicine research that impacts the health of countless Canadians. Their expertise and dedication deserve fair recognition.

The issues at stake—fair wages, better healthcare benefits, improved working conditions, and protection against excessive reliance on contractors—are challenges that resonate across our entire membership. This is why the full weight of PIPSC and our over 85,000 members across Canada stand firmly behind our CRPEG colleagues.

As we support our fellow members through this action, I want to remind you that solidarity is one of our union's core strengths. The success of this strike action will send a message to employers about the value and determination of professional workers.

I will keep you informed of developments as our CRPEG bargaining team continues working toward a negotiated agreement that properly recognizes the professional contributions of our nuclear scientists and engineers.

Thank you for your continued solidarity and support.

Sean O'Reilly
President, PIPSC

OTTAWA (Ontario), April 29, 2025 — The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) congratulates the Liberal Party of Canada on winning the most seats in the 2025 federal election.

While it appears no party earned a majority of seats or the popular vote, all now share the responsibility of delivering for Canadians. In a Parliament without a clear mandate, the message from voters is unmistakable: Canadians want action that protects Canada’s future and improves their day-to-day lives—not partisan bickering or short-sighted cuts. Any party looking to hold onto power must demonstrate concrete progress on affordability, opportunity, and quality of life.

“At a time when Canadians are anxious about tariffs, affordability and rising costs, we need to strengthen what supports them—not weaken it," said Sean O’Reilly, President of PIPSC. “This means investing in the public services they rely on. You can’t balance the books on the backs of the people who keep this country running – and you can’t cut your way to confidence in the House.”

As the new government takes shape, all parties must resist the urge to scapegoat public services as a way to manage fiscal pressures. Public servants have always been there for Canadians—in crises, recovery, and uncertainty. The services they deliver provide stability and a lifeline in the toughest times. Cutting them won’t solve our challenges; it will only make them worse.

Instead, the new government must make choices that reflect the needs of Canadians and protect our long-term interests – including properly resourcing the CRA to crack down on corporate tax evasion and putting an end to wasteful outsourcing. These are resources that could help shoulder the economic burdens we face, yet continue to drain billions from the public purse.

“PIPSC stands ready to work with this government—and with all parties in Parliament—to ensure public policy is driven by facts, fairness, and a commitment to the public good,” continued O’Reilly. “And we are equally prepared to defend our members and the services they provide if they are targeted by short-sighted efficiency stunts.”

Given renewed threats from the U.S.—not just in the form of tariffs, but in rhetoric that challenges our very sovereignty—the government must remember what sets Canada apart: a deep commitment to strong public institutions, universal social programs like healthcare, and public services that benefit everyone. These are not costs to be cut; they are core to who we are.

PIPSC represents over 75,000 public-sector professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government. Follow us on Facebook, on X (formerly known as Twitter) and on Instagram.

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For more information: Johanne Fillion, 613-883-4900 (mobile), jfillion@pipsc.ca

1. The federal public service is playing a critical role in the ongoing trade war. Whether it’s designing and implementing crucial support programs or creating the roadmap for a stronger domestic economy, public service professionals are there for Canadians. In the United States, the Republican government and DOGE are aggressively and recklessly cutting federal departments. Here at home, the Liberal and Conservative leaders have both promised cuts to the federal government in recent weeks. In the interest of finding rational solutions during a period of economic turmoil, will you commit to undertaking evidence-based program reviews in consultation with unions that do not include mass layoffs? 

The Green Party

Yes. The Green Party of Canada will commit to undertaking evidence-based program reviews in consultation with unions, without mass layoffs. We believe public service professionals are essential to Canada’s economic recovery and resilience. While other parties are promising reckless cuts, the Green Party supports a rational, people-first approach. Our economic plans are built on fairness and long-term stability—not austerity. That means strengthening the role of public servants, not shrinking it. If reviews are needed, we will ensure they are transparent, data-driven, and conducted in full partnership with public sector unions. We respect collective bargaining and workers’ rights. Instead of cuts, we will close tax loopholes, ensure billionaires and corporations pay their fair share​ and invest in a modern, efficient public service that serves Canadians.

The Bloc Québecois

The Bloc Québécois believes that there are staff shortages in several places, such as the CBSA, the RCMP and the Canadian Armed Forces. While we recognize that the size of the public service has grown by 40% under the Liberals, we will not support reckless mass layoffs as the Trump administration does. Above all, we want to eliminate the misuse of external consultants, who contribute nothing but cost a fortune.

2. Will your government retract the rigid 3-day in-office mandate for federal employees and implement fair and flexible remote work arrangements that reflect the realities of different jobs within the federal government?

The Green Party

Yes. The Green party would retract the rigid three-day in-office mandate and replace it with flexible, fair remote work policies based on evidence and consultation. We recognize that a one-size-fits-all rule does not reflect the diversity of federal jobs or respect workers’ expertise. Public servants deserve autonomy and input into how they work. We would work with unions to develop arrangements that reflect job needs, improve work-life balance, reduce commuting emissions, and support productivity. Modern public service must be adaptive, inclusive, and people-focused—not driven by outdated mandates.

The Bloc Québécois

We believe the federal government’s wall-to-wall approach is counterproductive. For example, some civil servants are told to come back to the office, but anywhere in Canada, so the teams aren’t even physically together. In such a context, the relevance of imposing a compulsory return to the office is dubious. We believe that joint reflection with unions and management is needed to ensure flexibility and efficiency.

3. Despite not getting paid properly for almost a decade, PIPSC members come to work each and every day, giving their best to Canadians. Will your government revisit the Memorandum of Agreement for Phoenix-related damages, and extend the deadline eligibility period, so all employees who have suffered damages as a result of pay errors are eligible for fair compensation?

The Green Party

Yes. The Greens would revisit the Memorandum of Agreement for Phoenix-related damages and consider extending the eligibility period. We believe no worker should be denied fair compensation due to arbitrary deadlines—especially after nearly a decade of pay chaos. The Phoenix disaster is an ongoing injustice, and we will prioritize resolving it. We support a full review to ensure all affected employees—past and present—are treated fairly and compensated properly. This includes working closely with public sector unions to assess outstanding claims and close gaps in eligibility. Trust and fairness must be restored in federal payroll systems.

The Bloc Québécois

Yes. We believe that the government’s mismanagement of the Phoenix file is causing enormous harm to civil servants. The government must compensate injured employees.

4. Canadians cannot afford any more failed outsourcing projects like the Phoenix pay system and the Arrivecan App. Will your government simplify internal staffing rules, invest in training permanent staff and eliminate the procurement policies that make it easier to outsource, even when in-house options are less expensive?

The Green Party

Yes. The Green Party opposes the overuse of outsourcing because it undermines public service capacity and wastes public funds. We believe the expertise to deliver quality services already exists within the public service—it’s time to trust and invest in it. Instead of defaulting to private contracts, we will reform staffing practices to empower departments to hire, train, and retain talent. We will shift federal culture away from outsourcing and toward rebuilding internal teams with long-term vision and accountability. We see outsourcing not as a necessity, but as a failure of planning. The solution is a strong, confident public service.

The Bloc Québécois

Yes. ArriveCAN is another striking example of the inefficiency of the government’s procurement policy, when a company of just two people found itself managing a multi-million dollar project while reaping maximum profits from the contract. It’s also scandalous that the former IBM Canada president who sold Phoenix to the government is the Liberal candidate in LaSalle-Émard-Verdun.

5. Will your government stop outsourcing critical IT and operational functions to American firms?

The Green Party

Yes. The Green Party will stop outsourcing critical IT and operations to American firms. These contracts create security risks, cost overruns, and reduce Canada’s digital sovereignty. We believe public sector IT functions should be managed by Canadian public servants—not foreign companies. We’ll reinvest in our federal workforce, grow domestic capacity, and adopt procurement standards that favour Canadian-controlled solutions. This isn’t just about cost—it’s about accountability, resilience, and trust. Public services should be built and maintained by the people who serve Canada.

The Bloc Québécois

Yes, 100%. We are opposed to the use of firms like McKinsey, which contribute nothing to the civil service, but cost a fortune to the public purse.

6. A fair and transparent global tax system requires large transnational corporations to disclose financial information for each country they conduct business in. Will your government implement this country-by-country reporting?

The Green Party

Yes. The Green Party strongly supports corporate transparency. We will work with international partners to implement a global minimum corporate tax and dismantle tax havens. We will also end tax treaties that enable profit shifting. These steps pave the way for country-by-country reporting of corporate profits, taxes, and operations. Canadians deserve to know where multinationals make their profits and if they pay their fair share in each country.

The Bloc Québébois

Yes. The Bloc Québécois has opposed the use of tax havens by Canadian companies for many years. Even their legal use is immoral, especially if you’re the prime minister of a country. We will keep up the pressure on the government to retain the global minimum tax, despite pressure from Donald Trump’s United States to eliminate it.

7. Will your government equip the CRA with the necessary legal resources, funding, and tax data to ensure tax compliance by wealthy individuals and corporations?

The Green Party

Yes. The Green Party will fully equip the Canada Revenue Agency to pursue wealthy tax dodgers and corporate tax evasion. We will stop targeting low-income Canadians and instead focus audits on offshore tax shelters and hidden wealth. Our plan includes closing stock option loopholes, taxing foreign profits, and increasing the corporate tax rate to 21% for large firms. We will also introduce a progressive wealth tax on fortunes over a certain threshold and create a permanent Windfall Tax on corporate excess profits. To support enforcement, we’ll fund more investigators and strengthen compliance tools. This is about fairness—making sure billionaires and big corporations follow the rules like everyone else.

Le Bloc Québécois

Yes. Fighting tax havens is one of our priorities.

8. Will your government allow federal scientists to speak publicly about the scientific work they do on behalf of Canadians?

The Green Party

Yes. The Green Party will ensure federal scientists have the freedom to speak openly about their work. We will ensure the ethical and honest conduct of scientific research and its application across all departments. Public science should be just that—public. We will also create a central portal so Canadians can access government-funded research and the evidence used to shape policy. This will make science more transparent and help rebuild trust between the public and federal research institutions.

The Bloc Québébois

We are in favour of greater transparency.

9. Will your government maintain the office of the chief science advisor and the Governance Committee for Implementation of Government-Wide Scientific Integrity?

The Green Party

Yes. The Green Party will maintain and strengthen both the Office of the Chief Science Advisor and the Governance Committee for Scientific Integrity. We will task the Chief Science Advisor with developing new tools to monitor the strength and capacity of federal science. Scientific integrity is essential to good governance, and we will make sure the rules protecting it are not only in place, but fully enforced. Evidence-based decision making starts with supporting scientists and protecting their independence.

The Bloc Québécois

Yes.

10. The federal government spends less on intramural science, technology, research and development than it did in 2010. Will your government commit to making meaningful investments in science within the walls of federal departments?

The Green Party

Yes. The Green Party will increase investment in federal science. We recognize that underfunding and political interference have weakened research inside government. We will invest in R&D at Environment and Climate Change Canada, restore funding for atmospheric and climate science, and review internal science budgets across departments. We will also fully implement the recommendations of the Fundamental Science Review and increase support for Canada’s research councils. Public science serves the public good. We will give it the funding and freedom it needs.

The Bloc Québécois

Yes.

11. Will your government consult with unions before implementing AI systems in federal workplaces and will you commit to being totally transparent about how and where the technology is being used?

The Green Party

Yes. The Green Party is committed to fully consulting unions before implementing AI systems in federal workplaces. Workers deserve a voice when new technologies could impact their jobs or privacy. We will create a Federal AI and Workplace Privacy Roundtable that includes worker and union representation. We’ll also expand Labour Code protections to ensure full transparency about how and where AI is used.

The Bloc Québécois

Yes.

12. Will you appoint an independent AI regulator to provide the Canadian public and federal employees a formal appeal process to question how AI is being used?

The Green Party

We support creating strong accountability for AI use. While our platform does not name an independent AI regulator yet, we will ensure a formal process exists for workers and the public to question or appeal AI decisions. Through the AI and Workplace Privacy Roundtable and stronger protections in labour law, we will make sure no one is left without a path to challenge unfair or harmful algorithmic decisions.

The Bloc Québécois

The Bloc Québécois won’t form the government, but we’d be willing to analyze such a measure.

13. Will you guarantee that AI surveillance will not be used to violate the privacy of government employees?

The Green Party

Absolutely. The Green Party will guarantee that AI will not be used to violate employee privacy. We will expand Labour Code protections to ban invasive surveillance and algorithmic exploitation in federal workplaces. AI must never be used as a tool to monitor, control, or punish workers unfairly. Employees deserve dignity and privacy, especially in an era of rapid digital change. All AI systems must meet strict standards for transparency, ethics, and human rights

The Bloc Québécois 

Yes.

14. Will you commit to implementing a human-centric AI policy focused on training and augmenting human capabilities rather than one that aims to replace workers?

The Green Party

Yes. The Greens will commit to a human-first approach to AI.Technology should serve the common good—not erase people from the workforce. Our goal is not to replace workers with machines, but to support and empower people. We will create pathways for workers to gain new skills. Our corporate automation tax will ensure companies benefiting from automation help pay for worker retraining.

The Bloc Québébois

Yes.

15. Canada’s Action Plan on Combating Hate (2024) found that hate toward ethnic, religious, disabled, sexuality and gender minorities is on the rise. Will your government implement equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility strategies to ensure equal access to employment opportunities and government programs in response to this growing trend?

The Green Party

Yes. The Green Party will implement strong EDIA strategies to counter the rising hate toward ethnic, religious, disabled, sexual, and gender minorities. Every person must have equal access to employment and government programs. We will enforce the Employment Equity Act, expand disability employment supports, and ensure universal design is the standard in all public infrastructure. We’ll invest in accessible transit, digital services, and home care. We also commit to protecting vulnerable communities, strengthening anti-hate laws, and holding social media platforms accountable for spreading hate.

The Bloc Québécois

We feel that government policies too often emphasize what separates us rather than what unites us. For example, we oppose politicians who interfere in people’s sex lives by asking about their sexual orientation. The Bloc Québécois aims for greater participation of minorities in public institutions, but proposes abolishing the criteria of equity, diversity and inclusion in the federal system, since they create exclusion and are ill suited to the realities of Québec and the regions. As these criteria are often aimed at self-declaration, they are easily circumvented and therefore ineffective.

16. Will your government implement the Privy Council Office’s Call to Action on Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion as it pertains to the public service?

The Green Party

 Yes. While we don’t name the Call to Action specifically, the Green Party supports its full implementation in spirit and substance. We will fight systemic racism in the federal public service and across all institutions. That includes ensuring fair hiring, addressing workplace discrimination, and empowering equity-deserving groups at every level. We support reconciliation, full Indigenous participation in public life, and investing in diverse leadership. Public service must reflect the people it serves—with fairness, dignity, and inclusion at the core.

The Bloc Québécois

The Bloc Québécois aims for greater participation of minorities in public institutions, but will propose to abolish the criteria of equity, diversity and inclusion in the federal system, since they create exclusion and are ill suited to the realities of Québec and the regions.

17. Defined-benefit pensions are an integral part of public service compensation. They are affordable, reliable, sustainable and act as a powerful tool to attract and retain skilled workers. This is especially true for professionals who take a significant pay cut to work in the public sector. Will your government commit to preserving the current terms of the Public Service Pension Plan?

The Green Party

Yes. The Green Party fully supports preserving the Public Service Pension Plan as a defined-benefit plan. These pensions are essential to attracting and retaining skilled professionals in the public service—especially those who accept lower salaries to serve the public good. We oppose any efforts to convert these plans into riskier alternatives.

The Green party will protect retirement security by rejecting any plan that would weaken existing pension terms. We will strengthen legal protections for pensions, including giving pension debts top priority in bankruptcy proceedings. Pensioners should never be left behind while creditors get paid first.

The Bloc Québécois

Yes, we believe that public servants deserve a fair and predictable pension plan.

The Legacy Foundation awards post-secondary education scholarships to the children and grandchildren of both regular and retired PIPSC members. Its mission is to promote professionalism and service to the community and the country. 

Through the generous donations of our PIPSC community and corporate sponsors, the foundation has generated more than a million dollars in scholarships for young Canadians.

We are seeking volunteers to participate in this year’s selection panel for the Legacy Foundation Scholarship program. 

Panelists will commit to a training session and evaluate approximately 60 applications over a 4-week period. We have a specific need for bilingual panelists. If you would like to volunteer in this year’s scholarship selection panel, please send an expression of interest to scholarship@pipsc.ca by April 25, 2025.

Less than three months into Donald Trump’s second presidency, the U.S. federal public service is in chaos. Sweeping executive orders, mass layoffs, and aggressive policy shifts have sent shockwaves through government agencies. While Trump did not explicitly campaign on slashing the civil service, his administration has embraced Project 2025—a blueprint for dismantling government bureaucracy, orchestrated by the conservative Heritage Foundation. The result? An unprecedented assault on the workforce that keeps the country running.

Weaponizing public service cuts

At the heart of this strategy is Russell Vought, the newly confirmed head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). As an architect of Project 2025, Vought’s vision for the federal workforce is clear—and disturbing. Speaking at a conservative event, he stated:

“We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected. When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains. We want their funding to be shut down so that the EPA can’t do all of the rules against our energy industry because they have no bandwidth financially to do so. We want to put them in trauma.”

This isn’t just about trimming “wasteful spending” or “finding inefficiencies”. It’s an ideological purge designed to weaken, demoralize, and ultimately shrink the role of government in American life.

Slashing government services and funding

Within days of his inauguration, Trump signed an executive order creating the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Its mission? To “maximize efficiency”—a euphemism for politically-motivated deep cuts and privatization.

The consequences have been swift and brutal – and this is just a snapshot: 

• Freezing financial assistance: On January 27, Trump paused all federal grants and loans, hitting sectors from healthcare to education.
• Gutting science and research: Billions in funding freezes, drastic cuts and layoffs to critical institutions, including the National Institute of Health, the Centre for Disease Control, the Environmental Protection Agency, and National Archives. Heavy restrictions have been placed on research, including bans on studies that mention particular words relating to sex and gender, race, disability and other protected characteristics.
• Slashing foreign aid: 90% of foreign aid contracts were eliminated overnight, gutting humanitarian efforts and diplomatic initiatives.
• Targeting healthcare: The Energy and Commerce Committee must cut $880 million—a figure that almost certainly means slashing Medicaid, which provides care for 72 million low-income Americans.
• Dismantling public education: The Department of Education eliminated $600 million in teacher training grants tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
• Undermining climate science: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) saw a 20% workforce reduction, disrupting critical weather services. Some firings were hastily reversed when officials realized the National Weather Service had been crippled. Trump’s executive orders rolled back 100 environmental protections in what’s being called the “biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history.”

While some of these freezes have been temporarily blocked by federal judges, the long-term damage is already being felt.

Hostile work conditions and layoffs

The Trump administration is not just cutting jobs—it’s making life miserable for those who remain.

• Mass-resignation incentives: Federal employees were offered full pay and benefits until September if they resigned—but later updates made key details unclear. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) encouraged staff to move into the private sector.
• Forcing employees back to the office: Trump banned remote work, requiring all employees to return by February 6 or get fired, regardless of office capacity or readiness.
• Productivity surveillance: Employees were ordered to submit weekly five-bullet-point reports on their work, with failure to comply considered a resignation. DOGE plans to feed these reports into AI to determine job relevance. Federal workers have already filed lawsuits, arguing this violates labor laws.
• Mass layoffs and relocation plans: On February 26, the administration directed agencies to submit plans for large-scale layoffs by March 13 and employee relocations to cheaper cities by April 14. Legal challenges are already underway.

Crushing federal unions

Trump’s war on the federal workforce also extends to union protections. In March, he issued an executive order stripping collective bargaining rights from up to 1 million federal employees.

By exploiting a national security exemption, the administration is arguing that anyone whose job touches border security, defense, foreign relations, or the economy should not have union protections. This unprecedented move could leave massive swaths of the workforce without a voice in their own working conditions.

Destroying Diversity and Inclusion efforts

The attack on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs was swift and ruthless.

• January 20: Executive orders fired all DEI-related employees, enforced binary gender recognition, and cut funding for gender-affirming care.
• January 21: Federal departments were banned from contracting with companies that enforce DEI standards.
• January 22: Trump revoked key portions of the Equal Employment Opportunity Order (1965), rolling back decades of anti-discrimination protections.

By dismantling these safeguards, the administration has emboldened discrimination in hiring, promotions, and workplace culture—creating a hostile environment for women, racialized, and LGBTQ+ employees.

The bigger picture: Chaos by design

Trump’s actions have created a federal workforce plagued by uncertainty, dysfunction, and fear. This isn’t about cost-cutting—it’s about rendering government so ineffective that privatization seems like the only solution. These are politically motivated cuts, as former Republican staffer and director of the Senate Budget Committee said, “designed to play to Trump’s base…for ideological reasons. The playbook has not been for the dollar savings, but more for the philosophical and ideological differences conservatives have with the work these agencies do.”

But the damage won’t just affect federal employees. Every American who relies on public services—healthcare, disaster relief, education, and environmental protections—will feel the consequences.

While courts may block some of these changes, the uncertainty forces employees to make decisions before legal battles are resolved—weakening the civil service through attrition. The Trump administration is betting that if enough damage is done, it won’t be reversible.

A warning for Canada: The threat to our public service

The dismantling of the U.S. federal workforce under Trump is not just an American crisis—it’s a cautionary tale for Canada. The rhetoric of “government inefficiency” is gaining traction here too, serving as a convenient excuse for potential deep cuts, mass layoffs, and the erosion of essential public services.

We are already seeing Workforce Adjustment (WFA) notices and service reductions under the banner of “cost containment.” But what does “inefficiency” really mean? It’s a political tool, not an objective measure. For some, it’s a call to improve public services to advance the public good; for others, it’s a justification for gutting them.

Pierre Poilievre, a contender for the next Prime Minister has spent two decades attacking unions and collective bargaining rights, undermining public services, and pushing for a smaller government—not out of necessity or to help Canadians, but as a matter of political ideology. 

The Conservatives’ vision for “efficiency” is not about better services but about eliminating them. If elected, this government won’t just trim budgets, make every division a bit more efficient, or make “performance-based layoffs”; it will make deep cuts.

• Research funding? Slashed.
• Vital public programs? Eliminated.
• Services Canadians rely on? Gutted.

This vision includes dismantling your public sector pension. The Conservative Party has pledged to shift pensions to a defined contribution model, aligning employer contributions with the private sector. This change shifts the risk to you, the employee, making retirement savings unpredictable. No more guaranteed pension based on your final years of work—your savings could run out before you do. They want to raise the pensionable age in Canada to 67, even though he qualified for a $120,000 pension at age 31.

Pierre Poilievre has already signaled his intent to monitor and control public servants, questioning whether their jobs matter at all. Conservative MPs say they have had much less freedom to speak publicly since Poilievre became leader. He has press secretaries monitoring the entrance to Parliament to supervise MPs as they pass journalists. 

Current Conservative policies are very focused on ideologies around gender and race. If elected, they may try to muzzle researchers and scientists whose work touches on political issues to make sure public servants stay “on message” rather than objective and scientific – just like the Harper Conservatives did with environmental science when Poilievre was a Cabinet Minister. It’s worth noting that Pierre Poilievre has voted against environmental protection 400 times.

Poilievre's rhetoric, record, and policies echo what we’ve seen in the U.S., where “efficiency measures” led to devastating job losses, weaker public institutions, and greater reliance on the private sector. There is a reason why his fellow conservatives say Poilievre is "very much in sync with … the new direction in America."

If we don’t push back now, Canada’s public service could face the same wave of deep austerity, union busting, political interference, and job insecurity. The fight to protect public services isn’t just about jobs—it’s about safeguarding the essential programs that millions of Canadians depend on every day.

With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Delbert “Del” Dickson, a dedicated leader, passionate advocate, and cherished friend. Del’s unwavering commitment to his profession and community left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Del devoted 30 years of his career as an accountant and auditor with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Alongside his professional work, he was an active and respected leader within the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), where he tirelessly defended the rights of members and championed their interests.

He received a Steward of the Year Award and served for many years as an NCR Director on the Board of Directors and Chair of the National Finance Committee. He played a key role in the AFS National Executive, contributing to the Bargaining Team and National Consultation Committee. He also served as president and executive member of the AFS HQ Sub-Group and was an active Ottawa Centreville Branch executive.

At Regional Council meetings and National AGMs, Del was a familiar presence at the microphone, speaking passionately on issues that mattered to members. His leadership, activism, and dedication earned him the Lifetime Membership Award, a testament to his lasting contributions.

Del’s presence, wisdom, and unwavering support will be deeply missed by his colleagues, friends, and all who worked alongside him.

The NCR Executive mourns his loss and extends heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.

The government's current patchwork approach to AI in the federal public sector is inadequate to keep pace with rapid technological changes. PIPSC remains disappointed by the TBS strategy unveiled in March 2025. 

We’ve long advocated for a federal strategy that guarantees transparency, including a registry on all AI use – a commitment previously made by Chief Data Officer of Canada, Steven Burt—but this was not delivered. There were also no assurances against job cuts due to AI or against its misuse from monitoring public servants, which we know is already happening. 

Most critically, there was no mention of an independent AI regulator. AI, when used responsibly, can empower workers, enhance jobs, and drive efficiencies. However, its unregulated use invites abuse: replacing workers, threatening privacy and undermining public sector standards.

PIPSC wants to see more substantive engagement and ongoing consultation on AI, and we continue to call for the creation of joint federal union and government committees. Public servants deserve to understand how AI will reshape their jobs and workplace, and our members deserve a stronger voice in this transformation. It's too crucial for the future of the public service for workers to be sidelined or their critical feedback ignored. 

Canada’s federal public sector needs a comprehensive and transparent approach to AI —supported by regulation and independent oversight, ongoing consultation, and collective bargaining— that addresses privacy risks, ensures employee rights, and safeguards good public sector jobs. 

Specifically, PIPSC is advocating for a federal strategy on AI that includes the following protections, safeguards and principles: 

• Consultation: Whether it’s introducing new AI into workflows or developing a federal strategy, government must consult unions and affected parties at all times. Establish regular consultation mechanisms across sectors, including with the Treasury Board, meeting at least four times annually. Strengthen the AI Advisory Council by incorporating union representation as we are directly affected by AI use.
• Regulation: Establish federal oversight bodies to regulate AI across all levels of government, including national security institutions, ensuring privacy and human rights protections. Ideally, Canada establishes a single regulatory framework that governs AI in both private and public sectors.
• Transparency: Treasury Board, departments, and agencies must publicly disclose all AI uses, particularly regarding recruitment, staffing, performance management, security screning, and visitor access.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): AI policies must be developed with an EDI lens, ensuring no discriminatory practices, like Clearview photo recognition, are used. All AI must be inclusive from the outset.
• Bargaining AI: Mandate the inclusion of AI use in the collective bargaining process so that employers and unions can bargain on how AI affects an employee’s work life.
• Monitoring: End all covert AI employee monitoring, including surveillance tools and robots, as highlighted by recent media reports.
• Review: New AI systems must be regularly reviewed after implementation to assess their effectiveness and make necessary adjustments.
• Whistleblower Protection: Protect employees who report unethical AI use, following successful models like those in Australia.
• Research: Federal departments should lead AI research to enhance existing programs or develop new ones, ensuring that research is conducted by public servants unless exceptions are justified.
• Training and Retraining: Provide mandatory, fully-funded AI training or retraining for employees, starting immediately when needed.
• Advance Warning: Extend the notice period for AI-related job changes or layoffs to at least one year, allowing sufficient time for retraining.
• Job Guarantee: If retraining is impractical, guarantee new job opportunities for employees impacted by AI-driven layoffs.

Community and labour organizations across the country are calling on Canada’s federal parliament to prioritize the interests of working people as it develops an action plan in response to new US tariffs. 

Urgent improvements are needed to Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI) system, as workers face economic hardship due to tariffs from the United States. The Interprovincial EI Working Group developed the EI Roadmap to ensure the government of Canada protects all workers at this time of uncertainty and vulnerability. 

PIPSC endorses the EI Roadmap alongside the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Unifor, the Canadian Labour Congress, and over 100 other organizations and unions across Canada. 

Read the EI Roadmap