'A lot of stress and anxiety:' Union wants clarity as Parks Canada prepares to cut hundreds of jobs

Looming job cuts at Parks Canada is leading to uncertainty about the effects of a 10 per cent spending reduction on the national parks system.

More than 2,900 Parks Canada employees — over half the federal agency’s workforce — will be informed by memos this week that their jobs may be affected, as the agency prepares for layoffs.

Parks Canada’s chief executive said 2,917 employees will receive a “workforce adjustment” letter this week informing them of their job status.

Receiving a letter does not necessarily mean a worker’s employment is being terminated, however. Rather, it means their position may no longer be required due to a lack of work, the service or function being discontinued, or their work unit relocating somewhere they may not wish to relocate.

“Over the coming months, we will implement organizational changes to align with available funding, modernize operations, strengthen field-based decision-making and ensure we remain well positioned to deliver on our mandate into the future,” Andrew Campbell, Parks Canada’s interim president and CEO, said in a statement.

As Parks Canada identifies activities or programs that will be reduced or stopped, Campbell said some jobs may be unaffected, while others may change or be eliminated.

The agency anticipates eliminating 500 full-time equivalent positions, Campbell said, noting all employees whose positions are directly affected will be informed by their director or field unit superintendent.

“This is not easy news,” he said. “This kind of change encourages us to think about our colleagues and how they are impacted, and to treat everyone with kindness and compassion.”

The upcoming layoffs are of particular concern for Parks Canada workers whose housing in towns such as Banff and Jasper are predicated on their employment status, says an official with the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the union that represents nearly 5,000 Parks Canada employees.

Krysty Thomas, the union’s regional executive vice-president (Prairies), said the job uncertainty is especially tough on parks employees in Jasper, many of whom are still rebuilding from the 2024 wildfire that devastated much of the picturesque mountain town.

Parks Canada hasn’t shared which jobs will be eliminated, Thomas said in an interview Friday.

But given the significant number of workforce adjustment letters being sent out, she said several departments could be at risk, citing wardens, a dog search-and-rescue program, visitor experience teams, trail maintenance crews, wildfire readiness and emergency response teams as examples of positions that could be axed.

“This is causing a lot of stress and anxiety for folks who don’t know if they’ll even have a job in the next few months,” she said.

“These are who keep the parks running, often out of sight, and they protect visitors, wildlife and the places Canadians come to experience.”

There are approximately 1,100 Parks Canada employees in Alberta, according to Thomas. More than 300 work in Banff National Park, 240 are stationed in Lake Louise, and roughly 100 are in Waterton Lakes National Park.

“We recognize governments do need to make financial decisions, but these decisions need to consider impacts on workers, services and the communities that depend on them,” she said. “We want Parks Canada to be transparent about which positions are being reduced, how these decisions were made and what alternatives were explored to protect jobs.”

The layoffs are due to federal budget cuts announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government last fall. The Liberal government wants to shave $145 million from Parks Canada’s spending, or a little over 10 per cent of the agency’s $1.27-billion budget.

In a statement, a Parks Canada spokesperson said the federal government is implementing measures from a recent review to ensure spending is responsible and cost-effective, while still delivering results for Canadians.

Parks Canada intends to modernize how it delivers its programs and services to “ensure they provide the greatest value to Canadians while supporting long-term sustainability,” the spokesperson added.

“Our focus on visitor service, conservation and enabling memorable experiences remains unchanged. Parks Canada will continue to focus on protecting the places entrusted to its care, and ensuring they can be enjoyed by current and future generations.”

Thomas said the government hamstrung Parks Canada’s revenue potential in the past two years by introducing the Canada Strong Pass, which provided free admission to national parks.

She noted that with the pass in effect, Banff National Park’s visitation increased by 4.5 million people last year, but Parks Canada did not receive a boost in revenue to address the influx of visitors.

“More visitors means more demand on maintenance, wildlife management, facilities and public safety,” Thomas said, noting much of the revenue generated by entry fees flows back to park operations.

“Making national parks accessible is super important — we want to welcome folks to visit these special places — but we need enough workers and resources to keep parks safe, maintained and welcoming.

“So we’re quite concerned with these cuts that we won’t be able to make those commitments.”

Catch up with the day’s headlines, curated by our editors and delivered to your email inbox at lunchtime on every business day. Sign up now for the Calgary Herald Noon News Roundup.