Ottawa | Arab Canada News

The Canadian government announced today, Saturday, its plans to eliminate about 800 jobs in passport offices across the country, a move that has raised concerns among employees and unions amid questions about the impact on the quality of services provided to citizens.

The Canadian Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship confirmed that the decision to reduce the number of employees is due to a decrease in demand for passport issuance compared to the peak levels observed in the country following the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the majority of the eliminated positions are temporary contracts that had been extended several times over the past two years to meet the increased demand.

According to the government statement, these cuts will not affect permanent employees and will be implemented gradually over the coming months.

For its part, the Public Service Alliance expressed its disappointment with the decision, warning that reducing the number of employees could lead to the return of long waiting lines and delays in processing appointments, especially during peak periods in the summer.

This step comes amid the federal government's efforts to control public spending and achieve a balance in the services budget, amid increasing economic challenges at the national level.