Global Affairs Canada

The Carney government has implemented budget cuts affecting staff at Global Affairs Canada and Economic and Social Development Canada, with positions responsible for combatting forced labour imports being wound down. The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) has been left without a permanent leader for 10 months, raising concerns about potential staff reductions and organizational dismantling.

Global Affairs Canada is eliminating 840 positions (780 employees and 60 executives) as part of the federal government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review (Budget 2025). This total includes vacant positions, projected attrition, and positions to be eliminated through formal workforce adjustment. Of these, 543 currently filled positions (483 employees and 60 executives) are undergoing formal Workforce Adjustment (WFA) or Career Transition (CT) proceedings — the most direct indicator of employees facing displacement. 3,715 "affected" or "at-risk" status letters have been issued (3,309 to employees, 406 to executives). These notices indicate potential impact and do not necessarily result in departure from the public service. The organization employs 7,657 people in the core public administration as of March 2025. Notifications were issued in Phase 2, Phase 3 of the Government of Canada's workforce reduction process.