10,980 public sector jobs cut in past 6 months

Almost 11,000 public service jobs have been eliminated to date since the federal government announced six months ago it was planning on axing 19,200 positions.

Tony Clement, president of the Treasury Board and minister responsible for FedNor, said the cuts are part of the Economic Action Plan 2012.

“We said we would eliminate 19,200 positions within the federal government and we are doing what we promised to do,” said Clement. “In just six months, we have already achieved more than half the reductions set out in the budget. A leaner, more affordable government is good for taxpayers and it's important in terms of our ability to return to balanced budgets.”

The job reductions have been achieved through a combination of attrition, which includes retirement, and positions eliminated under the collectively bargained workforce adjustment process. In the first half of this fiscal year, 7,500 positions have been eliminated through attrition, up from 7,200 originally projected in Economic Action Plan 2012.

“We are shrinking the size of government while minimizing impacts to employees,”" said Clement. “We will continue to work hard to rein in spending and find efficiencies in government operations. Our government understands that reducing costs helps keep taxes and our debt low, which are critical to spurring growth and ensuring our long-term prosperity.”