Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced plans to eliminate 3,300 positions nationwide over the next three years. This has sparked widespread concern among federal unions and communities reliant on immigration services.
This decision follows other significant job cuts across federal agencies, including the Canada Revenue Agency’s reduction of 600 temporary and contract positions last fall.
On This Page You Will Find:
- Overview of IRCC’s Job Cuts: Details of the 3,300 job reductions planned by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada over the next three years.
- Impact on Immigration Services: Analysis of how the job cuts may affect processing times, backlogs, and public services.
- Union and Community Concerns: Perspectives from unions, local leaders, and community members on the economic and social implications.
- Historical Context: Comparison with past public-sector layoffs and efforts to mitigate their impact.
- Future Outlook: How the changes align with immigration level plans and the broader federal spending strategy.
In a statement, IRCC said most of the cuts will be made by reducing staffing commitments and temporary workforce levels. However, approximately 20 percent of the reductions will require adjustments to permanent staff positions through the Workforce Adjustment process, impacting employees at all levels, including executive roles.
“These staffing changes are necessary to align with reduced immigration levels and permanent funding,” the department said, citing a need to adjust after rapid growth in recent years to address global crises, modernize systems, and support record-high immigration levels.
Scaling Down After Rapid Expansion
IRCC’s workforce has grown significantly in the past five years, increasing from 7,800 employees in 2019 to over 13,000 in 2024. This expansion was fueled by temporary funding to address the pandemic, bolster economic recovery, and meet labour market needs through immigration. However, the department faces a shift as the federal government reduces immigration levels for three years to ensure sustainable population growth aligned with housing, infrastructure, and social services capacity.
In October 2024, the government unveiled its updated Immigration Levels Plan, introducing lower targets to balance short-term growth with long-term sustainability. As a result, IRCC’s staffing is being adjusted to reflect these lower immigration targets and reduced funding.
Union and Community Concerns
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU) have criticized the job cuts, warning that they could harm families, businesses, and communities that depend on critical immigration services.
“These massive cuts will hurt families and businesses who rely on these critical public services and make a growing immigration crisis even worse,” said PSAC National President Sharon DeSousa. She expressed particular concern for vulnerable populations and the thousands of workers now facing job uncertainty.
The unions argue that reducing IRCC’s workforce will exacerbate backlogs in processing immigration, citizenship, and passport applications and interviews for prospective immigrants. With Canada grappling with labour shortages in healthcare, agriculture, and hospitality, the unions fear the cuts will hinder efforts to attract skilled workers and reunite families.
“Families longing to reunite, businesses grappling with critical labour shortages, and a healthcare system desperate for skilled workers will all suffer the consequences of this reckless decision,” said Rubina Boucher, CEIU National President.
Economic and Regional Impact
The cuts are expected to have a pronounced impact in the National Capital Region, where 56 percent of IRCC’s workforce is based. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe expressed concern about the local economic repercussions, noting that the city’s largest employer is the federal government.
“It’s going to be a tough year economically if these kinds of cuts continue,” Sutcliffe said during his State of the City address. “We need to work with the federal government on a plan to manage this transition and mitigate the economic impact on our community.”
IRCC employees are critical to processing immigration and citizenship applications, conducting interviews, and managing the systems that underpin Canada’s immigration programs. Any reduction in their capacity risks increasing delays and backlogs, which are already significant. For example, spousal sponsorship applications outside Quebec have doubled processing times from 12 to 24 months in recent years.
Calls for a Pause on Job Cuts
Unions and stakeholders call on the federal government to delay the planned reductions until Parliament resumes and a more precise national direction is established. Concerns have also been raised about the potential impact of geopolitical shifts, including changes to U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration, which could increase pressure on Canada’s immigration system.
Nathan Prier, President of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, warned that cutting experienced staff with institutional knowledge could lead to inefficiencies and the outsourcing of critical services. “The IRCC might have existing programs winding down, but new policies from the U.S. will create new challenges,” Prier said.
Historical Context and Future Plans
The planned reductions at IRCC are part of broader federal efforts to reduce public sector spending. The 2023 federal budget outlined plans to save $15.4 billion over five years through attrition and operational efficiency, while the 2024 budget committed to reducing 5,000 public service positions over four years.
This is not the first time Ottawa has faced significant public-sector layoffs. In the 1990s, similar cuts under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s government led to initiatives like the Regional Economic Diversification Opportunities (REDO) program, which aimed to transition displaced federal workers into private-sector roles through retraining and reskilling efforts.
Sutcliffe emphasized the need for a comparable transition plan to support affected IRCC employees, stating, “We need to work with the federal government on a strategy to help these workers and our local economy adapt to these changes.”
Impact on Attracting Talent
While IRCC’s staffing reductions are intended to align with sustainable immigration targets, they raise significant concerns about the department’s ability to manage existing workloads and respond to future demands. With immigration case backlogs already at record levels and labour shortages affecting critical sectors, the cuts may compromise Canada’s ability to attract talent and support economic growth.
Unions and community leaders are urging the government to reconsider its approach. They highlight the need for collaboration and investment in public services to ensure Canada’s immigration system remains efficient, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of families, businesses, and the economy.
As the federal government proceeds with its plans, the coming months will reveal pitfalls in in the system and how these changes affect immigration processing times, economic recovery, and public trust in Canada’s ability to manage immigration effectively.
FAQ: IRCC Job Cuts and Their Impacts
Why is IRCC cutting 3,300 jobs?
IRCC is reducing its workforce to align with lower immigration levels outlined in the 2024 Immigration Levels Plan and reduced federal funding. After a period of rapid growth to address global crises and record-high immigration, the department is scaling back to ensure sustainable population growth and better resource allocation.
How will these cuts impact immigration application processing times?
Job cuts may lead to increased delays and backlogs in immigration, citizenship, and passport application processing. Unions warn that reduced staffing will exacerbate wait times, affecting families and businesses reliant on timely immigration services.
What are unions and communities saying about the job cuts?
Unions, including PSAC and CEIU, have criticized the cuts, arguing they will harm families, businesses, and vulnerable populations. Communities, especially in Ottawa, are concerned about the economic and social impacts of reduced federal employment in the region.
Will the cuts affect Canada’s ability to attract skilled workers?
Yes, the cuts could hinder Canada’s efforts to attract skilled workers, particularly in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and hospitality. Processing delays and reduced immigration capacity may deter potential immigrants and disrupt labour market recovery.
Are there plans to support affected IRCC employees?
Federal unions and local leaders are advocating for transition plans, including retraining and reskilling programs, to help displaced employees. Ottawa’s Mayor has called for collaboration with the federal government to manage the economic impact and provide support to affected workers.