Ottawa Announces Job Cuts at Statistics Canada Amid Public-Sector Reshaping

Ottawa’s federal watchdog of numbers is trimming staff as part of a sweeping push to reduce government spending.Statistics Canada has confirmed plans to eliminate around 850 positions and shave 12 percent from its executive ranks.

The agency said affected employees will be notified within the next two weeks as the government accelerates its comprehensive review of spending and operations.As of March 31, 2025, StatsCan employed 7,274 people, including 99 executives.

What’s happening and who’s affected

Several departments have already signaled forthcoming job reductions, with announcements expected in the coming days. The move comes as the public service braces for a census in May and as unions prepare for broader workforce adjustments.

The Professional Institute of the public Service of Canada has reported that notices of workforce adjustments have been issued to about 3,274 workers, including 940 union members. It remains unclear which specific programs will bear the cuts.

Officials and union leaders warn that the reductions could affect the quality, timeliness, and reliability of data that underpin government decision-making and private-sector planning. The union cautions that large-scale cuts could have broad repercussions for Canadians who rely on StatsCan data daily.

Context: a government-wide push to trim the public service

Ottawa is pursuing roughly $60 billion in program and administration savings over five years through a comprehensive expenditure review. The plan includes restructuring operations, consolidating internal services, and deploying workforce adjustments and attrition to return the public service to a more sustainable size.

In parallel, Shared Services Canada has signaled upcoming staff reductions, noting that hundreds of workers may be affected. The agency oversees the government’s IT backbone, including critical cybersecurity functions.

Shared Services Canada stressed that it cannot yet provide a total count of affected employees while the process continues. Critics warn that reducing core IT and cybersecurity capacity could weaken digital defenses and service continuity across government programs.

Key figures at a glance

Why this matters beyond numbers

Experts and labor leaders warn that large-scale staffing changes at a national data agency could affect the accuracy and reliability of public statistics, which inform policy choices and private-sector decisions. Critics argue that hollowing out key backend services—such as IT and data management—could have long-term consequences for Canadians who depend on timely, accurate facts.

Evergreen implications for public data and governance

• Data integrity hinges on a stable workforce; abrupt reductions can ripple through every stage of collection,processing,and release of statistics.
• Strategic attrition programs may ease pension and recruitment pressures, but require careful design to protect expertise and continuity.
• Maintaining robust IT and cybersecurity infrastructures is essential when restructuring public services that millions rely on daily.

What readers should watch next

Two immediate questions to consider: How will these cuts impact the quality and speed of data publicly released by StatsCan? What safeguards will the government implement to preserve critical IT and data capabilities during the transition?

Share your perspective below: Do you support attrition-based reductions to shrink size without eroding core capabilities? How should the government balance efficiency with the need for reliable public data?

Stay with us for updates as officials finalize which programs will be affected and as Shared Services Canada outlines the broader IT implications of the reform plan.

For readers seeking context, this move is part of a broader push to recalibrate the size of the public service while pursuing meaningful cost savings over the next five years. As agencies navigate these changes, the question remains: how will data-driven policy evolve in a leaner, faster federal machine?

Engage with us: what impact do you anticipate on government services and the data Canadians rely on most? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.