Ottawa set to bear the brunt of job losses tied to federal budget tightening
Ottawa’s reputation as a provider of stable government jobs could soon take a blow, as a think tank predicts that the city could lose between 11,000 and 22,000 of such jobs within the next three years. A report just published by the Centre for Policy Alternatives—and partially funded by two federal unions, the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Professional Institute of the Public Service,–estimates a combination of budget cuts passed by the federal Conservative government and widely expected new cuts to be included in the next budget could slash as many as 70,000 jobs across the country. Ottawa would be the hardest-hit area due to its sheer concentration of government agencies and departments. The report’s estimates include not only public service jobs, but also positions at non-profit organizations and other businesses that rely on federal government funding.