OTTAWA,  January 20, 2026 — Deep workforce cuts at Health Canada will weaken the systems Canadians rely on to ensure the safety of their food, medications, and medical devices, warns the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, following confirmation that hundreds of specialized scientific, regulatory, and consumer safety jobs are being eliminated.

“These cuts don’t just affect workers – this is healthcare, they affect every Canadian,” said Sean O’Reilly, President of PIPSC. “These are the experts who make sure the medication in your cabinet is safe to take, the food in your fridge won’t make your family sick, and dangerous products are pulled off store shelves before they cause harm”.

Health Canada is responsible for reviewing and approving prescription drugs, vaccines, and medical devices; monitoring and responding to infectious diseases and foodborne outbreaks; enforcing safety standards; and protecting Canadians from environmental risks in air and water.

PIPSC warns that slashing capacity at Health Canada allows small problems to become serious failures.

“When you weaken the government’s ability to regulate drugs and health products, issue recalls and alerts, and respond to infectious diseases, risks go undetected and warnings come too late,” said O’Reilly. “These experts help Canadians act quickly because they act quickly. You cannot cut public health without increasing risk.”

The union is also deeply concerned about the loss of specialized scientific expertise that cannot be easily replaced. “At a time when Canadians expect strong oversight and rapid responses to health threats, these cuts move us in the opposite direction,” O’Reilly added. “Canadians deserve a proactive, evidence-based, and adequately resourced health system, not one that is less prepared for the crises of tomorrow.”

PIPSC is calling on the federal government to reconsider the scope of these cuts and to meaningfully assess their long-term impacts on public health, safety, and service delivery.

PIPSC represents over 85,000 public-sector professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government. Follow us on Facebook, on X (formerly known as Twitter) and on Instagram.

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For more information: Johanne Fillion, 613-883-4900 (mobile), jfillion@pipsc.ca

OTTAWA, January 16, 2026 - As workforce cuts accelerate, public servants are being forced into a Hunger Games-style fight for jobs, competing for their own positions, while outside consultants carry on untouched. The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) is demanding the government explain why experienced public servants are facing waves of workforce reductions as outsourcing spending reaches record highs.

“This week saw major waves of workforce cuts at Shared Services Canada and Statistics Canada, dealing a serious blow to Canada’s digital and information infrastructure,” said Sean O’Reilly, President of PIPSC. “We are hearing directly from members that consultants are still working alongside employees who received layoff notices this week. That raises serious questions.”

Over the past week alone, public servants at Statistics Canada, Shared Services Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Canada Economic Development for Québec and the Treasury Board Secretariat, among others, have received workforce adjustment notices, deepening uncertainty and instability across the public service.

“These are core public services Canadians rely on every day,” said O’Reilly. “Slashing capacity across these federal departments weakens cybersecurity, undermines evidence-based decision-making, and delays service delivery. Cuts today mean crisis tomorrow.”

The cuts announced this past week are part of the government’s Comprehensive Expenditure Review, a broader wave of public sector reductions that has already affected multiple federal departments, with more job losses expected in the days and weeks ahead.

“Consultants cost at least 26 percent more than public servants,” said O’Reilly. “If you are trying to save money, you do not lay off trained, experienced workers and pay someone else more to do the same job. That’s not savings. That’s waste.”

PIPSC is calling on the government to halt further workforce cuts and prioritize the expertise of public servants over costly outsourcing. Federal scientists and researchers will also be in Ottawa today demonstrating against cuts to federal science and the broader public service. Members will gather at the Delta Hotel at 2:45 PM ET and will march to Parliament Hill.

For more information on today's rally or to request an interview: Johanne Fillion, 613-883-4900 (mobile), jfillion@pipsc.ca

OTTAWA, January 13, 2026 — Federal departments are issuing workforce reduction notices on a scale not seen in decades, raising serious concerns about the federal government’s ability to deliver public services Canadians rely on. The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) warns that the loss of experienced public servants will have lasting consequences for service quality, capacity, and accountability.

“These are not abstract cuts on the government’s balance sheet - they are real jobs, real expertise and real services at risk," said PIPSC President Sean O’Reilly. "Once this capacity is gone, it cannot be quickly or cheaply replaced. It’s a dark time for the federal public service.”

Today’s impacted departments include Statistics Canada, a cornerstone of the public service that provides the trusted data Canadians rely on to understand the economy, the labour market, inflation, and housing. That data underpins evidence-based decision-making across government, business, and communities, shaping economic policy, guiding investment, and supporting effective service delivery to all Canadians.

PIPSC notes that reductions at Statistics Canada are part of a broader wave of public-sector cuts that have already affected multiple federal departments, with more reductions expected in the days and weeks ahead. Together, these cuts represent a significant contraction of public service capacity across government, raising concerns about the federal government’s ability to deliver core services and functions, respond effectively to economic uncertainty, and implement its own ambitious agenda.

“If the government wants sound analysis to help retool the Canadian economy, it needs the right data and analysts who know how to interpret it. That capacity doesn’t exist without Statistics Canada experts. That capacity was slashed today,” said O’Reilly. “Given the challenges Canada is facing, this is the wrong decision at the worst possible time.”

The union also warned that workforce reductions are part of a broader pattern that will damage productivity and drive early departures, leaving departments increasingly dependent on private consultants to fill gaps.

“This is not happening in isolation,” O’Reilly said. “Public servants are facing a triple hit at the same time. Significant job cuts, forced return-to-office rules, and a wave of early retirement incentives. That is not a plan. It is a pile-on.”

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For more information: Johanne Fillion, 613-883-4900 (mobile), jfillion@pipsc.ca

The government of Canada has announced that, effective January 1, 2026, pension benefits for retirees under the Public Service Pension Plan will be increased by 2.0%. This automatic increase, known as indexation, is designed to help protect your pension against the rising costs of living.

Over time, indexation ensures that your retirement income continues to meet your needs, helping maintain financial security and stability in retirement, even as prices for everyday goods and services rise.

The Public Service Pension Plan is an employer sponsored, defined benefits pension plan that covers most PIPSC members working in the Core Public Administration or at separate employers. 

For full details, including how the indexing is calculated and what it means for your pension, please visit the PSPP indexation page. Indexing rate – Retired members

The following op-ed by PIPSC President Sean O’Reilly was published in the Ottawa Citizen on Dec 18, 2025.

Six weeks after the federal government unveiled Budget 2025, its implications for the public service are becoming clearer and more troubling.

At the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, we’ve heard from members  that fighting outsourcing remains a top priority.

During the spring election, the Liberals promised to reduce the government’s reliance on external consultants, but it’s obvious that the budget moves Canada in the opposite direction. What was pitched as a plan for discipline, modernization and efficiency is instead accelerating a decade-long shift toward outside consultants and away from in-house expertise.

Rather than strengthening the public service, the federal government has chosen once again to double down on outsourcing — the practice of hiring private consultants to do work the public service can and should be doing. This is a bad habit that’s been quietly draining billions of dollars from federal coffers for years, all while weakening the very systems Canadians rely on.

Budget 2025 even claims it will “cut back” on private consultants, but the government’s own numbers tell a different story. Outsourcing has doubled since pre-pandemic levels, and spending on professional services is projected to hit $26.1 billion this year — a 37 per cent increase from last year and a record high.

Even if the government somehow achieves its promised 20 cent reduction, outsourcing would still be roughly double what it was a decade ago. Private contractors cost taxpayers up to 26 per cent more than public servants.

It’s not even close. At best, it’s a premium price tag for duplication, delay and dependency. At worst, it weakens the very systems Canadians rely on, such as food safety, emergency response, digital security and environmental protection.

The budget makes matters worse by cutting around 30,000 public service jobs  in addition to about 10,000 that were lost last year. Replacing skilled, permanent staff with contractors isn’t efficiency — it’s erosion. Fewer public servants and more outsourcing will leave departments stretched thin, less resilient, and increasingly dependent on private-sector firms to perform core government functions.

We’ve seen this play out before. Phoenix was sold as a cost-saving reform and became one of the largest administrative failures in federal history. Billions were wasted.  ArriveCAN began as a modest digital contract and ballooned into a $60-million fiasco. Both were built by outside firms. Both continue to cost Canadians.

Contrast that with what happened when emergency struck during the COVID-19 pandemic: it was public servants — not consultants — who designed and delivered the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)  system in just six weeks. There were no million-dollar contracts, no glossy branding and no chaos. That’s what real efficiency looks like.

If the government wants to balance the books, it should reduce contractor waste before cutting scientists, analysts and inspectors. Build capacity before buying another quick fix. Canadians want a government that works for them — not one that looks “efficient” on paper while paying more to get less.

If we want real results, we need to look at who’s actually doing the work. It’s not consultants in corporate boardrooms; it’s the public servants in labs, offices, and control rooms who keep the country running.

Budget 2025 was a chance to rebuild public capacity and chart a smarter, self-reliant course. Instead, it repeats the mistakes of previous governments.

Outsourcing doesn’t make government leaner — it makes it weaker. You can’t cut your way to competence, and you can’t outsource efficiency.

Toronto, December 13, 2025 — The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) concluded its national AGM today. This event marked President Sean O’Reilly’s first year in office, and charted a focused path forward as federal public services face deep cuts, accelerating outsourcing, and rapid technological change.

Over 800 delegates, stewards and board members from across the country gathered to assess the year’s progress and set priorities for the months ahead. O’Reilly highlighted that, over the past year, PIPSC has invested in steward training and digital modernization, thereby creating a stronger foundation for the challenges ahead.

“This AGM marks a turning point,” said PIPSC President Sean O’Reilly. “We’ve rebuilt our internal strength, we’ve shown governments that we are a serious, solutions-focused voice, and we’re ready for the difficult period ahead. Our members deliver the critical services Canadians rely on every day, and we will defend that work with clarity, determination and unity.”

A major theme of the AGM was the union’s response to the federal government’s newly signaled cuts to the public service. PIPSC emphasized the real risks these cuts pose to Canadians, from slower inspections to weaker emergency response to delays in scientific and regulatory work. These decisions are not just reducing headcount; they’re weakening the systems that keep this country functioning. At the same time, new return to office (RTO) mandates are adding instability and stress.

Delegates reflected on the national Lobby Week that saw members meet MPs across the country to raise concerns about cuts, outsourcing, and workforce adjustment (WFA) pressures.The AGM also showcased PIPSC’s leadership on federal science and artificial intelligence. The union’s recent Science Roadmap report revealed significant strain in labs and research programs across government, while PIPSC continued pushing for responsible, evidence-based AI adoption that supports rather than replaces professional expertise.

PIPSC celebrated important member-driven wins this year, including the successful CRPEG strike — the union’s first in more than 30 years — and membership growth in specialized groups, such as Crown Counsel in Newfoundland and Labrador.

As the AGM closed, PIPSC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening public service capacity, protecting evidence-based decision-making and advocating for the resources professionals need to serve Canadians effectively.

PIPSC represents over 85,000 public-sector professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government. Follow us on Facebook, on X (formerly known as Twitter) and on Instagram.

Learn more about the accomplishments and continuous work of Canada’s largest union of professional employees in this year’s annual report.

Read the report

Ottawa, December 8, 2025 — Reacting to news today shared by Prime Minister Carney that a new return to office mandate is coming in the next few weeks, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) is calling on the federal government to ground any Return to Office (RTO) decisions in evidence, service outcomes, and operational reality.

“Canadians want results, not roll calls,” said PIPSC President Sean O’Reilly. “When the government makes policies about optics instead of outcomes, it risks slowing service delivery, draining talent, and making it harder to recruit the next generation of professionals.”

“We’ve been clear for years: RTO must be about 'presence with purpose,’” continued O’Reilly. “Where in-person work improves innovation, training, or service delivery, that’s great. But forcing people back just to be seen and to sit in on video calls from another location is not leadership. It’s theatre.”

As unions return to the bargaining table, the timing of the Prime Minister’s comments raises questions that underscore the need for evidence, transparency and collaboration.

“The government has consistently told unions that RTO was not being considered, and its most recent budget made no reference,” said O’Reilly. “We can all agree that no one wants a repeat of past RTO Directives, which were announced without consultation and caused widespread disruption, confusion, and unnecessary strain on labour-management relations.”

PIPSC wrote to the government as recently as last week to reiterate the union’s clear expectations.

“RTO is not a workforce strategy. You can’t modernize government with a 20th-century workplace model.”

PIPSC represents over 85,000 public sector professionals across the country, with the majority employed by the federal government.

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For more information or a copy of the letter PIPSC sent to TBS please contact : Brittany Smith (416) 841-4325, smithb@pipsc.ca.