How Federal Job Cuts at Environment Canada Could Impact Your Safety and Health

Scientists and labor leaders are raising alarms about the significant impact that federal job cuts at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) could have on the health and safety of Canadians, wildlife, and the environment.

Scientists and Union Leaders Sound the Alarm

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government is reducing the size of its public service, with 840 positions at ECCC on the chopping block. This represents roughly 10% of the department's workforce. Scientists and labor leaders warn these cuts could compromise essential services that protect Canadians from extreme weather events, industrial disasters, and environmental contaminants.

Sean O'Reilly, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, says cuts to Environment Canada could lead to a 'crisis' down the line.

What's at Stake for Canadians

ECCC scientists monitor environmental health, protect against extreme weather, and prevent industrial disasters. Sean O'Reilly, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), emphasizes: "These aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet. This is real science being cut. You can't cut public science or staff without increasing public risk."

Critical functions at risk include:

• Weather forecasting and alert systems
• Prevention of oil spills and railway disasters
• Monitoring of environmental contaminants like pesticides, microplastics, and forever chemicals

Historical Context: When Cuts Lead to Crisis

O'Reilly points to historical examples where inadequate public service investment had deadly consequences:

• The 2013 Lac Megantic rail disaster linked to deregulation and reduced resources at Transport Canada
• Canada's slow COVID-19 pandemic response attributed to chronic underresourcing at the Public Health Agency

"These cuts today potentially could mean a crisis tomorrow," O'Reilly warns.

The Reality of Current Staffing Levels

Retired ECCC scientist Christine Bishop describes the team as already a "skeleton crew." She worked alongside Indigenous communities to monitor environmental contaminants and believes this research is exactly what Canadians want and need.

"People are definitely interested in knowing what's going on in the environment and how it might relate to their own health," Bishop says.

Why Private and Academic Research Can't Replace Public Science

Both Bishop and O'Reilly argue that private and academic research cannot fill the gap left by public service cuts. ECCC scientists conduct applied research of immediate interest to Canadians—work that isn't driven by profitability or academic curiosity alone.

"Public science is the science that isn't as glamorous, it isn't profitable," O'Reilly explains. "It takes years and years to build up good public science, but it only takes a moment to cut it."

Government Response and Ongoing Uncertainty

ECCC spokesperson Samantha Bayard maintains the department remains "committed to its mandate" despite the cuts. However, the department has not specified which teams will face reductions or how weather forecasting and alert systems might be affected.

As public servants await their fate, the uncertainty creates what some describe as a "Hunger Games-style atmosphere of fear and uncertainty."