‘Decision not taken lightly’: Service Canada cuts 800 jobs, passport demand declines

What’s going on at Service Canada?

Service Canada is set to cut approximately 800 term positions across the country by the end of June 2025, in response to a projected drop in passport application volumes.

• The affected workers are located in Service Canada offices nationwide, not concentrated in one region.
• An Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) spokesperson confirmed the cuts in a statement Friday night, emphasizing that the move was based on forecasted workload volumes and aimed at maintaining fiscal responsibility.
• “This decision was necessary and not taken lightly,” said ESDC.

The decision follows Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) forecasts predicting reduced demand for passports in the 2025–26 fiscal year.

Service Canada’s Passport Program operates on a cost-recovery model, meaning revenue from passport fees must match staffing and other operating expenses.

• SEE ALSO: Layoffs in Canada: Find out which employers are slashing staff

Next steps for Service Canada employees

If you’re fired or let go from Service Canada, understanding your legal rights is crucial.

Non-unionized employees in Canada are entitled to severance pay. The amount you’re owed is based on a variety of factors, including your role, tenure, age, and ability to find similar work.

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru delves into severance pay on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Compensation: Severance packages, which can be as much as 24 months’ pay, may include salary, bonuses, commissions, and other forms of compensation. Use our firm’s free Severance Pay Calculator to better understand your entitlements.
• Deadlines: You generally have up to two years from the date of your termination to review and negotiate severance offers.
• Action steps: Consult an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP to ensure your severance package is fair and aligns with Canadian employment laws.

Lost your job at Service Canada? Contact us

If you’ve been fired or let go from Service Canada, the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP can help.

Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. have helped tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals resolve their workplace issues.

Call us today at 1-855-821-5900 or request a consultation online.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and SHOULD NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.