In a significant move that will reshape the national statistics agency, Statistics Canada has announced plans to eliminate 850 jobs over the next two years. The cuts will also affect the agency's leadership, with 12 per cent of its executive team being let go.
Immediate and Long-Term Workforce Reductions
According to an internal memo obtained by The Canadian Press, the downsizing process is already underway. The first wave of 100 job cuts is scheduled for this week, marking a swift start to a broader two-year plan. The memo, published on January 13, 2026, outlines a challenging period of transition for the department headquartered in Ottawa.
The scale of the reduction is substantial, representing a notable portion of the agency's workforce. While the memo did not specify the exact total number of employees currently at Statistics Canada, the loss of 850 positions indicates a major operational shift. The decision to cut 12 per cent of the executive team suggests a top-down approach to restructuring and cost-saving.
Context and Potential Impacts
The announcement comes amidst a wider landscape of federal budgetary pressures and potential reviews of public service spending. As the country's primary collector and disseminator of crucial economic and social data, any significant change at Statistics Canada is closely watched by policymakers, economists, and businesses across Canada.
The agency, whose Ottawa offices are a familiar landmark, is responsible for critical programs like the Census, labour force surveys, and inflation data. Observers will be monitoring how these workforce reductions might affect the quality, timeliness, and scope of the essential data that informs national decision-making.
Looking Ahead for StatsCan
The two-year timeline for the full implementation of the 850 job cuts suggests a phased approach, possibly allowing for attrition, retraining, or departmental reorganization to absorb some of the impact. However, the immediate elimination of 100 roles this week signals an urgent beginning to this process.
The memo did not publicly detail the specific divisions or roles most affected by the cuts, nor did it provide a rationale beyond broader governmental efficiency goals. The move is likely to spark discussions about the capacity of the public service to deliver core services and the long-term strategy for one of Canada's most fundamental data institutions.
