Content: Federal public workers in Manitoba are expressing concerns about potential job losses and reduced service quality as the government prepares for its upcoming budget. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), which represents thousands of these workers, fears that cuts to the civil service will have a significant impact on Canadians.

The Carney government has indicated plans to reduce the federal workforce, asking all departments to implement cost-cutting measures of 7.5 percent this year, increasing to 15 percent next year. "Our members are the ones that are standing up at the counter at the passport office, that are standing at the counter processing your unemployment and your maternity benefits, and answering the phone at the Canada Revenue Agency," said Marianne Hladun, regional executive vice-president for PSAC in the Prairies. She added, "I think sometimes people think of public service workers as a bunch of bureaucrats with no face, but when you need them, you expect them to be there, and that is our biggest concern."

As of this year, there are 13,235 federal employees in Manitoba, excluding members of the RCMP, Canadian Armed Forces, or Canadian Security Intelligence Service. PSAC represents about 9,000 of these workers, including those in various roles such as Veterans Affairs, passport services, and the Canada Revenue Agency.

Federal Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne has stated that the size of the civil service is "not sustainable." He noted that Manitoba's federal workforce grew by nearly 1,900, or about 16 percent, from 2019 to 2025, largely due to pandemic-related hiring. Champagne assured that the government would approach workforce reductions with compassion.

However, Hladun criticized these comments as "absolutely reckless for Canadians," pointing out that many departments are already understaffed. She referenced a recent Auditor General report highlighting long wait times at CRA call centers. "We saw what happened at Canada Revenue Agency when they cut all the term positions," Hladun said. "The reality is some departments are so underfunded that I don't know how they'll have capacity to even meet any service standards, even if they're not meeting them today."

Adam King, an assistant professor of labor studies at the University of Manitoba, noted that the government's approach does not suggest traditional public austerity measures. Instead, he described it as a shift toward capital-focused nation-building, moving away from social programming that expanded during the previous administration.

King emphasized that the discussions about cuts coincide with ongoing negotiations between federal unions and the government. He stated, "The big question here is going to be workforce adjustment, and workforce adjustment is not just nice words but is actually part of the collective agreement."

PSAC and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada are the two largest federal civil service unions. Both unions have strong job security provisions in their collective agreements, which King believes gives them significant leverage in negotiations. He warned that the current situation could lead to increased tensions in labor relations.

Carney has promised various megaprojects in the future, although the Port of Churchill expansion was not included in the initial announcements. Hladun pointed out that many federal workers in Manitoba will be essential for facilitating any upcoming projects, including the Port of Churchill expansion.

"All of the environmental factors that would go into expanding the Port of Churchill would need people from Environment Canada, would need Transport Canada, people with the rail line and the airline in the marine safety, making sure that the waterways are safe and that the wildlife and our treasured belugas are kept safe," Hladun explained. She warned that a lack of staffing could delay projects and jeopardize both the community and the environment.

The Treasury Board of Canada did not respond to a request for comment before publication.