OTTAWA – The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is set to lay off approximately ten percent of its workforce as the agency scales back its operations following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The move is part of a post-pandemic realignment and adjustments to new financial allocations. While exact figures are not yet available, reports suggest that around 320 jobs will be lost. This is in addition to a previous round of layoffs that occurred earlier this year.
A PHAC spokesperson stated that the job cuts are not part of Prime Minister Marc Carney’s public sector austerity plan. The agency’s staffing levels have seen significant fluctuation, rising from over 2,300 people before 2020 to a peak of approximately 4,200 in 2022. Currently, PHAC has more than 3,000 employees on staff.
