In Budget 2023, the Government of Canada committed to reducing spending by $14.1 billion over the next five years, starting in 2023-24, and by $4.1 billion annually after that. This will affect nearly every department and agency.
We are currently seeking more information about how departments and agencies under the jurisdiction of the Ministries of Public Safety and Justice (including the Correctional Service of Canada and the RCMP) will proceed to implement these cuts. This includes their approach to resourcing the work that USJE’s members undertake and cutting front line positions that support public safety outcomes. We know this will result in notably increased workloads – and many members having to do more with less.
By way of background, departments and agencies under the Public Safety portfolio are implementing a total of $141.1M in cuts as part of the government wide mandate to ‘Refocus Government Spending’ in 2024-25. They are currently projecting an ongoing savings total of $247.3M for the Portfolio. USJE recognizes that operational cuts will weigh heavily on USJE’s members who, in their capacity as federal public safety personnel, are integral to keeping Canadians safe from coast to coast to coast.
Using publicly reported data from the Government of Canada’s 2024 budget follow up, we can confirm that:
CSC is planning the following spending reductions:
2024 to 2025: $48.5M
2025 to 2026: $60.5M
2026 to 2027 and after: $85.6M
The RCMP is planning the following spending reductions:
2024-25: $24.8M
2025-26: $31.4
2026-27: $33.7M
2027-28: $39.7M
2028-29: $42.6M
Ongoing: $41.7M
The Department of Justice Canada (Justice Canada) is planning the following spending reductions:
2024–25: $6,654,000
2025–26: $9,692,500
2026–27 and per year ongoing: $15,114,000
The Parole Board of Canada is planning the following spending reductions:
2024-25: $1.2M
2025-26: $1.8M
2026-27 and after: $2.6M
Public Safety Canada is planning the following spending reductions:
2024 to 2025: $0.5M
2025 to 2026: $0.5M
2026 to 2027 and after: $1.5M
Given the size of these cuts, USJE’s biggest concern is that, similar to the Deficit Reduction Action Plan (DRAP) that began in 2014, departments and agencies will again attempt to quietly eliminate positions, programs, pilot initiatives, and administrative supports without full transparency. As we have previously witnessed, these cuts will likely be undertaken without acknowledging the short and long-term impacts that they will have on other employees within a team, unit, branch, detachment, facility, parole office, etc. Our members have been going above and beyond to compensate for previous cuts and shortages in an effort to continue keeping Canadians safe, however these cuts are likely to rapidly stretch, stress and burn out our members. The domino-like negative impact on public safety personnel is likely to compromise the invisible public safety network that Canadians expect and deserve.
Next Steps
As USJE endeavours to understand how these cuts will impact our members in the field, we would like to hear from you.
In the coming weeks, we will be inviting USJE members to share information with the USJE National Office on where these front-line cuts are taking place and how they are affecting front-line work. This will help us build a clearer picture of the impacts at local, regional and national levels.
USJE plans to use this information in its discussions with the departments and decision makers (MPs) to demonstrate how these cuts are impacting front-line work.
Following this, USJE will further communicate on tactics and strategies that can be used to raise awareness around the cuts, defend workplace rights and help to protect the health and safety of our members.