Parks Canada to Cut 500 Full-Time Jobs Amid $145 Million Budget Reduction
Parks Canada plans to eliminate the equivalent of 500 full-time positions following a $145 million federal budget cut over three years. Nearly 3,000 staff members have been notified their jobs are at risk, prompting criticism from the Public Service Alliance of Canada over potential impacts on Jasper wildfire recovery efforts.
Parks Canada expects to eliminate the equivalent of 500 full-time jobs as part of a workforce adjustment driven by a federal funding cut of $145 million over the next three years. 
Nearly 3,000 staff members—approximately two-thirds of the Parks Canada workforce—are being notified this week that their positions are at risk. Receiving an "affected" letter does not necessarily mean a layoff; it signals the potential discontinuation, change, or relocation of a position. The agency is led by interim president and CEO Andrew Campbell.
The planned reductions have drawn criticism from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). Krysty Thomas, regional executive vice-president for PSAC's Prairie region, raised concerns about staffing levels during periods of increased visitor demand. Some Parks Canada programs may be scaled back or discontinued as a result of the cuts.
The workforce adjustment compounds uncertainty for employees involved in recovery efforts in Jasper. Approximately 375 Parks Canada employees are currently working to help the community recover from the 2024 wildfire, which destroyed one-third of the Jasper townsite and 20 per cent of Parks Canada assets within the park.