Fed jobs on the chopping block in Canada

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OTTAWA, June 27 (UPI) -- Word Wednesday that more than 5,000 federal jobs in Canada are at risk of elimination brought warnings from unions that the result would be reduced services.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported union officials said 2,055 workers at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada received notes, with another 1,450 positions at Service Canada and 1,212 at the Canada Revenue Agency being told they could lose their jobs.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada said workers at more than a dozen departments and agencies received notices.

"Cuts to Service Canada are especially troubling as it is impossible that frontline services won't be affected with the jobs of so many of its 23,000 employees in question," a statement from PSAC said.

The announcements are part of a larger workforce-trimming effort the government announced in March. The Canadian government aims to cut 19,200 positions over the next three years with the goal of saving $5.2 billion, the CBC said.

The notices don't necessarily equate to layoffs, since some positions will be eliminated through attrition.