A reduction of 665 people represents about 13 per cent of the ministry’s total workforce.
“I want to emphasize that none of these difficult decisions were taken lightly,” Hanson said in the email.
The cuts in AAFC staffing is part of the prime minister’s goal to reduce overall public service spending.
Prime Minister Carney promised in the 2025 federal budget to reduce spending by 15 per cent over three years and asked ministers to identify savings within their portfolios.
In ag, this means winding down programs deemed outside of AAFC’s core mandate and reducing some scientific activities where a more streamlined approach exists.
This appears to include a facility in Alberta.
Dr. Hushton Block, a research scientist with AAFC, posted on his X account on Jan. 22 that “AAFC Lacombe Research and Development Centre is being shut down as a result of government budget cuts.”
Employees in other federal departments will be affected too.
Statistics Canada is planning to cut 850 positions over the next two years.
Health Canada plans to cut 1,056 jobs.
The 1,100 people at Innovation, Science and Economic Development received notices that their positions are affected.
And 74 people working in the Department of Finance could lose their jobs.