Ottawa halved federal emergency centre staff before wildfire season: union

The federal nerve center for emergency response in Ottawa saw its workforce cut by approximately 50 percent earlier this year, a move the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) argues has hampered the government's ability to manage the current severe wildfire season.

According to PSAC, around 60 employees at the Government Operations Centre (GOC) received workforce adjustment letters in January, effectively eliminating their positions. The union reports that most of these affected workers have since departed, though it remains unclear if they moved to other public service roles or were terminated.

"The government operations centre (GOC) is responsible for coordinating our national emergency response," stated Sharon DeSousa, PSAC's national president. "Gutting it by almost half puts people across the country at risk, including frontline workers who are battling wildfires, supporting evacuations, and risking their lives."

The GOC, operating under Public Safety Canada, is tasked with identifying high-risk events and providing round-the-clock coordination for national emergencies like wildfires, floods, and earthquakes. Prime Minister Mark Carney recently visited the center, highlighting the immense effort involved in combating the wildfires, which has required mobilizing thousands of firefighters and hundreds of aircraft.

“

The government operations centre (GOC) is responsible for coordinating our national emergency response. Gutting it by almost half puts people across the country at risk, including frontline workers who are battling wildfires, supporting evacuations, and risking their lives.