Alberta Agriculture officials plan to cut 150 full-time positions to
help balance the department’s budget.
In a letter to staff, deputy minister Brian Manning said the upcoming
business plan calls for a “reduction of about 150 full-time equivalent
positions to address budget requirements and restructuring needs.”
Some job reductions will be achieved by eliminating vacant positions
and through attrition, he wrote, but others will require “the
abolishment of occupied positions.”
The job cuts are no secret. Many senior department staff have already
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been forced to reapply for jobs in the redesigned industry development
sector of the department that plans to focus more on value-added. The
government wants industry to reach targets of $10 billion in primary
production and $20 billion in processing by 2010.
To achieve its goal, the department needs to double the amount spent on
value-added services to $8-$9 million without increasing its $450
million budget.
In February the department announced which of its field offices would
become the main hub offices. It is not yet clear what services will be
provided in the other offices.
In the letter, Manning said the department is still determining which
positions will be abolished.
Dan MacLennan, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees,
which represents some of the staff, said he hopes the department will
help laid-off workers find jobs in other government departments.
There is a provision in the union contract that allows a worker whose
job is eliminated, to receive between 13 and 43 weeks severance pay, or
apply for jobs in other departments if staff there want to retire.
“Our hope is the government looks to other departments where there are
people who want to retire and are fully eligible for pension,” said
MacLennan.
“Hopefully the department hasn’t become enough of a fiefdom to
co-operate with each other.”
Ag officials did not return phone calls for a further interview.
