Published Jan 23, 2025 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 3 minute read
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offices on Dorchester Street in Sydney. The Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU) says 740 of their members work for IRCC in the municipality, both term and indeterminate.Photo by T.J. Colello /Cape Breton Post
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It’s unclear how many employees in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality will be affected by 3,300 job cuts nationwide in the next three years at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU) says 740 of their members work for IRCC in the municipality, both term and indeterminate. However, they say the number of workers in jeopardy is even higher as others are not members of the union.
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CEIU national president Rubina Boucher called the news of the job cuts “shocking.”
“With our membership, they provide such critical services to folks across this country that we’re really afraid about what these cuts mean to families and businesses,” she said.
More information about the layoffs is expected in mid-February.
According to its website, the IRCC facilitates the entry of temporary residents, manages the selection, settlement and integration of newcomers, grants citizenship and issues passports to eligible citizens.
The Sydney case processing centre handles applications for permanent resident cards and citizenship applications. The centralized intake office in Sydney receives applications for several programs, like federal skilled worker and federal skilled trades. There’s also an application processing centre located in New Waterford.
Rubina Boucher, Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU) national president: “With our membership, they provide such critical services to folks across this country that we’re really afraid about what these cuts mean to families and businesses.”Photo by Contributed
More information needed
Boucher said more information is needed to understand what the impact will be on all of their members.
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“When we look at the department’s own reporting, the backlog is one of the longest they’ve ever seen,” she said. “When it comes to backlogs and processing times, we do shudder to think what these cuts will mean to the situation. It’s basically making a bad situation even worse.
“How will that happen? I think from our perspective, our members are the ones working on processing permanent residency and citizenship applications every day. They’re the ones working to bring in the talent we need to strengthen our economy so right now, when we look at everything happening south of the border and in terms of inflation in this country, the focus really should be on strengthening our health care, building our houses, growing businesses and that’s what the work of our members is, it’s to ensure that that happens.”
‘At all levels’
In an emailed statement, Remi Lariviere, media relations with IRCC, confirmed the message shared with employees on Monday that over the next three years, the department will reduce the workforce by approximately 3,300 positions.
“This will impact to various degrees every sector and every branch across IRCC, both domestically and internationally, in (headquarters) and in the regions, and at all levels, including up to the executive levels,” Lariviere said. “We estimate that about 80 per cent of these reductions can be achieved by reducing staffing commitments and our temporary workforce. The remaining 20 per cent of reductions will need to be achieved through the Workforce Adjustment process and will affect indeterminate employees.”
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Budget decisions will focus on maintaining border security and enforcing immigration laws, while evaluating how best to deliver programs and services, Lariviere said.
“In recent years, IRCC expanded rapidly to address global crises like the pandemic, modernize systems and support record immigration levels that boosted economic recovery and addressed labour shortages,” said Lariviere. “This growth relied on temporary funding, which was never meant to be permanent. In October 2024, the Government of Canada announced its Immigration Levels Plan for the next three years, which will see reduced immigration levels resulting in a short-term pause in our population growth to achieve more sustainable long-term growth. The new immigration levels plan introduces lower targets to focus on sustainable growth aligned with housing, infrastructure and social services. Staffing within IRCC is being adjusted to align with reduced levels and permanent funding.
“Budget 2023: Refocusing Government Spending also directed departments to return spending to pre-pandemic levels. IRCC is managing this through attrition and redeploying staff to priority areas, while continuing to provide essential services, reunite families and support the achievement of economic goals.”
‘Against arbitrary cuts’
Boucher said the union is offering its own cost-cutting solutions to IRCC, like replacing outsourcing with in-house expertise and looking at overtime allotments.
“Vulnerable families need help now more than ever,” she said. “Budget cuts always have some sort of unintended consequences and ultimately what happens is those with the least are the ones that get hurt the most.
“We are really against arbitrary cuts that hurt not only our members, but people, families and businesses across this country.”