Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be eliminating 3,300 positions across the country over the next three years.
It’s the latest job cuts announced by the federal government, after 600 temporary and contract employee positions were cut at the Canada Revenue Agency last fall.
In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, IRCC confirmed employees were informed about “upcoming labour reductions” on Monday, with a majority of positions to be cut through “reducing staffing commitments and our temporary workforce.”
“Over the next three years, we will reduce our planned workforce by approximately 3,300 positions. This will impact to various degrees every sector and every branch across IRCC, both domestically and internationally, in HQ and in the regions, and at all levels, including up to the executive levels,” the IRCC said.
“We estimate that about 80 per cent of these reductions can be achieved by reducing staffing commitments and our temporary workforce. The remaining 20 per cent of reductions will need to be achieved through the Workforce Adjustment process and will affect indeterminate employees.”
The federal department says these staffing changes are meant to align with reduced immigration levels and funding.
“In recent years, IRCC expanded rapidly to address global crises like the pandemic, modernize systems and support record immigration levels that boosted economic recovery and addressed labour shortages. This growth relied on temporary funding, which was never meant to be permanent,” the statement said. “In October 2024, the Government of Canada announced its Immigration Levels Plan for the next three years, which will see reduced immigration levels resulting in a short-term pause in our population growth to achieve more sustainable long-term growth. The new immigration levels plan introduces lower targets to focus on sustainable growth aligned with housing, infrastructure and social services. Staffing within IRCC is being adjusted to align with reduced levels and permanent funding.”
Source / CTV News
