Parks Canada is set to reduce its workforce by the equivalent of 500 full-time positions nationwide in a move known as a “workforce adjustment.” The federal agency informed CBC News of this development on Thursday. Nearly 3,000 Parks Canada employees are currently being informed that their jobs are at risk, according to a memo distributed to staff and published online earlier this week.
Andrew Campbell, interim president and CEO of Parks Canada, mentioned to employees that extensive efforts are being made to minimize the number of staff members who may be required to leave involuntarily. The objective is to provide more employees with the option to leave the agency voluntarily. The staff reductions are scheduled to take place over the upcoming months, although the exact timeline is yet to be determined.
Krysty Thomas, regional executive vice-president for the Prairie region of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), expressed disappointment at the impending job cuts, especially following the launch of the free Canada Strong Pass program. Thomas emphasized the importance of ensuring that parks have adequate staffing and resources to serve visitors safely, particularly as the government is encouraging more Canadians to visit these parks.
The restructuring of the workforce follows a comprehensive expenditure review by the federal government, directing Parks Canada to absorb nearly $145 million in budget reductions over the next three years. Some programs will be scaled back or discontinued, and the number of positions required to deliver certain services will be reduced. Campbell stressed to employees in June that attrition alone would not suffice to meet the cost-saving targets.
Thomas noted that she did not anticipate that 2,917 workers, representing almost two-thirds of Parks Canada’s workforce, would receive an “affected” letter. Such a letter does not necessarily imply a layoff but could indicate that a position may no longer be necessary due to various reasons. The affected staff members might be reassigned based on vacant positions or receive a layoff notice.
The uncertainty faced by employees is exacerbated for approximately 375 Parks Canada workers who are still aiding in Jasper’s recovery from a devastating 2024 wildfire. Thomas highlighted the concerns of these workers, who have already endured challenges following wildfires in Jasper and Waterton in previous years.
Parks Canada assured that decisions on all assessed positions would be made in the coming weeks, with specific details on the impact on the Jasper field unit to be provided soon. The agency reiterated its commitment to conservation, visitor safety, and delivering memorable experiences. Campbell emphasized that support is available for employees during this period of uncertainty and that Parks Canada aims to emerge as a resilient and forward-looking organization in the future.
