Indigenous Services Canada has not offered job guarantees to staff facing cuts, internal document shows
Internal document says guarantees are not viable as the department faces cuts of up to 15 per cent to its operating budget.
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Indigenous Services Canada has not offered Guarantees of a Reasonable Job Offer to any employee facing possible layoffs, according to an internal April 21 document addressed to deputy minister Michelle Kovacevic.
A GRJO means an affected employee keeps their salary, pension and benefits while waiting for another position, and keeps their former salary if the offered job is a lower classification. Without one, it sought approval to offer three alternatives: a 12-month surplus priority entitlement list, a transition support measure paying cash based on years of service, or an educational allowance.
The Ottawa Citizen obtained the document through an access to information request. In July 2025, the federal spending review set a goal of cutting up to 15 per cent of the operating budgets of most federal departments and agencies.
ISC spokesperson Eric Head did not answer questions about why no GRJOs have been offered. In a statement, Head said deputy heads are expected to provide a GRJO to affected employees for whom indeterminate employment is anticipated within the next year, and that a GRJO guarantees a reasonable job offer will become available, not an offer of employment.
The federal government aims to shed about 30,000 public service jobs over several years.
By the numbers
How much could Indigenous Services Canada's operating budget be cut?
Indigenous Services Canada faces cuts of up to 15 per cent to its operating budget. This comes from a July 2025 federal spending review that targeted most federal departments and agencies.
How many federal public service jobs is the government aiming to cut?
The federal government aims to shed about 30,000 public service jobs over several years.
