@smurph.bsky.social:
From the article, this sort of framing always drives me up the wall : “the operations centre has been in a structural deficit for nearly a decade.” As if it is supposed to make a profit as opposed to being a public good to protect people.
@alvincarpenter.bsky.social:
I hate this framing with Canada Post but applying it to putting out fires is next level.
@tryangregory.bsky.social:
“He’s just trimming waste from federal agencies.”
Carney fans last year
@robacooper.bsky.social:
So he pulled a Kenney/Ford? For a supposedly great banker he really really seems bad at assessing risk matrixes
@diasrt.bsky.social:
He only looks at the cash his buddies can make
Carney government cut nearly half the jobs at nerve centre for managing wildfires: union, About 50 of the approximately 100 positions at the Government Operations Centre have been eliminated under the federal ‘comprehensive expenditure review,’ according to the largest public sector union by Ben Andrews, Jul 22, 2026, Ottawa Citizen
Before discussing wildfire smoke with U.S. President Donald Trump at the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, Prime Minister Mark Carney posted photos on social media from a visit to the federal Government Operations Centre (GOC).
“This morning, I met with federal workers in Ottawa who are supporting the wildfire response efforts in Northwestern Ontario and across the country,” the post read.
With Trump threatening new tariffs on Canada over smoke that blanketed much of the northeastern United States last week, Carney highlighted the government’s efforts to co-ordinate the response to “one of the most intense wildfire seasons in Canadian history.”
But, under the Carney government’s plan to reduce the size of the public service, the centre featured in the post had lost about 50 positions, or nearly half its workforce, according to Canada’s largest public sector union.
“The government operations centre (GOC) is responsible for coordinating our national emergency response,” Sharon DeSousa, national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), said in a written statement.
“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 supports emergency preparedness, provides around-the-clock situational awareness and leads the co-ordination of the “integrated federal response to all-hazard events of a national interest.”
Established in 2004, the centre has helped co-ordinate the national response to emergencies ranging from major floods to the 2014 shootings on Parliament Hill to the 2022 trucker protests in downtown Ottawa.
On July 17, the centre activated its “Level 3” response to the current wildfire season. Under that response level, GOC works with regional offices to address current and potential requests for federal assistance, and may send liaison officers to the regions or other federal government institutions.
Workforce adjustment letters sent out in January
Affected employees at the operations centre received workforce adjustment (WFA) letters in January, according to PSAC.
Workforce adjustment is the process through which a permanent federal employee can look to alternate with another public servant or take an exit package.
Most of the employees affected by the cuts have left the centre because they found positions elsewhere or were terminated, the union said. Only some of those who received WFA letters are still actively working at GOC.
As of Tuesday, July 21, the operations centre had been cut down from a little more than 100 positions by about 50, PSAC said.
According to the union, the workforce adjustment notices were issued as part of the “comprehensive expenditure review” — the government’s plan to find $60 billion in savings over five years from the operational budgets of most departments and agencies.
not savings, Herr Carney, obedient little Nazi, is stealing our money to give to American-Israeli genocidal military, mass surveillance American AI including the worst company on earth – Palantir, to please Pedo Trump and take our rights and Public Health Care away. He’s an evil cruel shit, much more anti Canada anti Canadian anti environment than Harper ever was.
Those cuts are a key part of a broader plan to shrink the public service by thousands of positions over the next several years.
The Public Safety department didn’t respond to a request for comment by deadline, nor did communications staff for Carney or Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree.
Operations centre overworked
Unless a forest fire is taking place in a national park or in a First Nation community, provincial governments are responsible for managing the response.
In the most recent budget, the federal government invested $316.7 million over five years to “establish a new national aerial firefighting surge capacity.” In May, the feds used the funding to lease 10 firefighting aircraft — including air tankers, heavy lift helicopters and a birddog plane — to support provincial and territorial wildfire agencies.
Last November, the government opened a “state-of-the-art” facility to house GOC, which was featured in Carney’s post on Sunday.
“This new operations centre enhances the federal capacity to support provinces and territories and Canadians in times of need and will help deliver on our government’s mission to protect Canadians from current and emerging threats,” said a news release at the time.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, July 20, Carney said he informed Trump about the scale of Canadian investment in managing wildfires and highlighted the work of thousands of firefighters currently on the frontlines.Liar Liar Carney lies to Liar Liar Trump.
Even before the cuts, GOC was facing a resource crunch.
An internal memo obtained by The Canadian Press in 2024 found that budget and staff challenges at the centre had left overworked employees exhausted and sapped morale.
According to that document, the operations centre has been in a structural deficit for nearly a decade.
@emmettmacfarlane.com:
No criticizing government decisions, people. Must have faith in Our Saviour Carney.
@sailorgirl2017.bsky.social:
I’m sure there is more to the story…there always is, as the media likes dramatic stories.
One thing Canadians can do to help is join their local Emergency Support Services or Emergency Operations Centres.
Instead of complaining…do something. JoinTeamCanada
@yvrdaniel.bsky.social:
Let’s all volunteer while our government subsidizes and bails out corporations and big businesses.
Must keep the trickle down trickling down.