Yesterday's Auditor General’s report on CRA call centres is a clear warning sign. 

• 10,000 CRA jobs eliminated since 2024
• Call centre agents cut from 7,800 to 3,500
• Only 5% of June calls answered within standard
• Less than 30 minutes of training per agent per year
• 17% accuracy rate on basic tax questions 
• Complaints up 145%

This report makes it clear: cuts compromise the quality of services Canadians count on – resulting in longer wait times, reduced access to vital information, and growing frustration for those who need help.

CRA agents are professionals who want to help Canadians, but they’re being set up to fail by political decisions beyond their control. When professional capacity is slashed, training is eliminated, and expertise is replaced with algorithms, services break down, and the public pays the price.

In response, the government has pointed to more AI and general commitments to improve, rather than committing to the report’s main takeaway: align staffing levels with demand.

Canadians want to speak with a real person – someone who understands their situation and can offer trusted information. The solution isn’t more AI or automated bots that leave people feeling frustrated and disconnected.

This is a reminder that today’s service failures are the result of previous rounds of cuts. And now, the federal government is asking Canadians to brace for more – with its 15% reductions planned in the upcoming budget, the deepest public service cuts in generations.

Cuts already made are slowing services and making it harder for Canadians to get the support they need. The government faces a clear choice: strengthen public services by investing in them, or compromise them even further. 

The revival of the Bargaining Conference after several years was a great success. From September 9 to 11, 2025, bargaining team members from the Core Federal Public Service and selected agencies took part in an informative and collaborative training experience. The conference provided an opportunity to deepen understanding of the bargaining process and strengthen solidarity across groups.

Participants engaged in a dynamic program featuring presentations, interactive panel discussions on real-world experiences, and hands-on activities aimed at building practical bargaining skills. In a post-event survey, nearly 62% of participants rated the training as “Excellent,” highlighting the interactive panels, real-life bargaining simulations, and collaborative learning atmosphere as key strengths.

One participant noted that the training “brought the bargaining process to life,” while another shared that it “built confidence and connection among groups that don’t often work together.”

These results confirm that the conference not only met its learning goals but also reinforced a strong sense of solidarity and readiness across the Institute’s bargaining teams.

Katherine Kenny, one of the negotiators who helped organize the event, reflected on its success:

“I am so pleased that this training achieved our pedagogical goals, but also that members from different groups were able to connect, share their experiences, and support one another.”

She added:

“Although this project began in our department, it was the combined knowledge and talent of teams and individuals across the Institute that made this unique training possible. It truly showed our bargaining team members that the entire Institute stands behind them when they get to the table.”

While this session focused on the Core Public Administration groups, the Negotiations Team is exploring similar sessions for other groups in the near future. The training modules developed for this conference will serve as a lasting resource for future learning and development across the Institute.

The return of the Bargaining Conference underscores the Institute’s ongoing commitment to supporting members and equipping bargaining teams with the tools and confidence needed to negotiate the best possible agreements on their behalf.

PIPSC members, like all members of the federal public service, are the quiet force behind Canada’s strength: dedicated professionals who protect the health, safety, and economic security of Canadians by building the programs and systems we all rely on – especially when times get tough.

Earlier this year, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne launched a directive for 7.5%, 10%, and 15% spending cuts – the most devastating attack on federal public services in a generation. Both jobs and entire programs could be on the chopping block.

These cuts are on top of the work force adjustments already being rolled out across departments as part of the government’s Budget Refocusing Exercise. It’s cuts on top of cuts.

PIPSC members make a difference in shaping a stronger and better Canada. These cuts will hurt Canadians. 

This is your opportunity to share your story about how these cuts will hurt.

How does your work make a difference in Canadians’ lives?

Together, we’re taking a stand for strong public services and a stable, more resilient Canada.

Tell us about your important work.