On November 11, Canadians gather in silence, in ceremony, and in solidarity. It is a day to remember the sacrifices made by those who served in times of war and conflict, and to reflect on the values that guide us toward a more peaceful and just society.

As a union, we believe that peace is not passive—it is built through action, advocacy, and unity. The ceremonies held across the country, including the tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa, remind us of the importance of collective memory and the responsibility we share to uphold the dignity of all people.

Remembrance Day is not only about honouring the fallen—it is also about supporting the living. Many veterans continue to serve our communities, and many face challenges in their transition to civilian life. Solidarity with veterans means recognizing their ongoing contributions and ensuring they have access to the support they need.

Let us honour their courage by advocating for peace, justice, and dignity in our workplaces and communities. Solidarity is our strength, and remembrance is our responsibility.

Resources:

Learn more about Remembrance Day through storytelling

• Watch this video
  A moving tribute to veterans and a reminder of the importance of remembrance and ongoing support.

Useful links to support veterans

• Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees (UVAE-SEAC)
  Represents members who serve veterans and advocates for fair working conditions and stronger support for those who have served.

• Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families
  Features a searchable map of peer support programs across Canada.

• Veteran Ready Employer Program
  Helps employers hire and support veterans in meaningful careers.

As the Carney government moves ahead with plans to slash potentially tens of thousands of federal public service jobs, new polling by the Public Service Alliance of Canada shows that people in Canada are concerned about the impact of cuts on already strained public services and want to talk to humans — not chatbots — when accessing federal benefits.

Conducted by Crestview Strategy in September, the national survey of 2,000 adults reveals that a clear majority of respondents (51%) oppose widespread layoffs of tens of thousands of federal public service workers. When asked about the government’s planned 15% cuts to most federal departments, respondents were far more likely to express concern (45%) than optimism (19%) about the impact on services and jobs. Instead, most respondents (60%) want the government to prioritize addressing the cost of living.

“People don’t want reckless cuts to the services they rely on — they want a government focused on making life more affordable,” said PSAC National President Sharon DeSousa. “This polling confirms what we’ve been hearing for months: people see the strain on public services every day, and they know cuts will only make life harder for everyone.”

When asked why they were concerned about the impact of government’s spending cuts, respondents listed reduced access to public services and longer wait times (33%), potential job losses and increased unemployment (30%), and concerns about the quality and efficiency of public services (16%) as their top three concerns. A majority also agreed that departments delivering essential frontline services — such as public health (66%), food inspection (61%), passports and benefits (61%), environmental protections (51%), tax administration (55%) and national parks (50%)— should be protected from cuts.

These attitudes reflect a broader sense that federal public services are not bloated, but rather understaffed and strained, an assessment with which a majority of respondents agreed.

Key findings: 

• Inflation dominates public concern: 60% said bringing down the cost of food and essentials should be the federal government’s top priority compared to just 28% who prioritized reduced government spending. 
   
• Concern outweighs optimism: More than 45% of respondents were concerned about the impact of budget cuts on public services, compared to just 19% who were optimistic. Younger respondents between the ages of 18–34 were most concerned (54%) about spending cuts. 
   
• Public services seen as strained: 64% agreed federal public services are strained and backlogged, and 48% said frontline services are understaffed. 
   
• Trust in human workers: 56% preferred a human case manager to handle taxes, benefits, and pensions rather than artificial intelligence. 

“The takeaway here is clear: the vast majority of people trust and support public service workers,” said DeSousa. “They see the value of what our members do every day, and they don’t want the government to make services worse by cutting corners or public service jobs.” 

The study’s findings are based on an online survey with a sample of 2,000 Canadian adults. A combination of quotas and weights were applied to ensure a sample that is representative of the population based on census data for age, region, and gender. The survey was in the field from September 14–18, 2025.  A comparable probability sample has a margin of error of ±2.2% at a 95% confidence level. 

Ottawa, November 5, 2025 — The Public Service Alliance of Canada is deeply concerned about the federal government’s plan to slash critical public services, cut more than 40,000 federal public service workers, and undermine the collective bargaining rights of hundreds of thousands of workers.  

Despite the needs of a growing and aging population, the government’s Budget 2025 will eliminate vital programs and services over the next three years while replacing workers with artificial intelligence through its Comprehensive Expenditure Review (CER). 

“These deep public service cuts will hurt workers, families and communities across Canada,” said PSAC National President Sharon DeSousa. “People can expect longer wait times for passports, EI and child care benefits, more unanswered calls at Canada Revenue Agency, reduced public health and food safety efforts, and a government that isn’t there for ordinary people when they need it most.” 

Instead of investing in frontline services and the workers who keep Canada running, the government is doubling down on job cuts and AI chatbots that will weaken Canada’s social safety net.  

PSAC will do everything in its power to protect public services and the people who provide them by enforcing the provisions of our collective agreements and the rights enshrined in labour law. 

“Prime Minister Carney talks a lot about how Canada will have to make sacrifices, but who is really making sacrifices in this budget?” asked DeSousa. “It’s not the mega corporations, the wealthy bankers or the CEOs – once again it’s working people in this country who will shoulder the burden.”  

Changes to collective bargaining 

We are also extremely concerned about the government’s decision to unilaterally change the labour laws that govern federal public service workers, and will be reviewing the legislation closely.  

“These changes are yet another direct attack by this government on workers’ constitutionally protected collective bargaining rights,” said DeSousa. “Let me be clear: workers fought hard to secure these rights, and will fight tooth-and-nail to protect them.”  

Equitable retirement for frontline workers 

We welcome the commitment in the budget to provide public safety workers with equitable retirement benefits, allowing them to retire with dignity after 25 years of service, without penalty. This is long overdue.

Source: https://psacunion.ca/federal-budget-government-plans-deep-public

Other Resources:

Building Canada strong | Budget 2025

Over the past several months, PSAC has heard from many members who have raised concerns about the level of representation and support they have received from the Union of National Employees (UNE). 

PSAC’s National Board of Directors (NBoD) takes these concerns very seriously. This week, the NBoD voted to place the Union of National Employees (UNE) under trusteeship, effective October 24, 2025.  

During the period of trusteeship, the UNE Bylaws are suspended. This means that all elected officers of UNE – the National President, National Executive Vice-President, the National Executive members, Regional Teams, and Human Rights Committee – are vacated. However, local executives remain in their positions.  

PSAC’s NBoD has appointed a Trustee and an Administrator to oversee the operations of UNE, and they will report to PSAC’s National President and to the NBoD.   

The Trustee will assume the responsibilities normally carried out by the elected officers and will work with UNE staff to restore the component’s capacity.  

UNE members should continue to contact their local representative or their UNE National Labour Relations Officer for representation assistance. The component’s operations will continue during this period and PSAC is dedicated to assisting UNE members and staff through this transition. 

Supporting UNE’s more than 27,000 members remains PSAC’s top priority. We are working to ensure UNE members receive the strong, effective representation they deserve. 

Dear Passport Members,

The recently announced workforce cuts have directly impacted UNE membership. Many of you are facing uncertainty, reduced opportunities, and unfair treatment. You are not alone.

📞 Please join us for a Passport National Call

🗓️ Tuesday, September 23, 2025
💻 ZOOM LINK: https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/69416573656?pwd=BogiVcZJOHawEeStB5PO1vOD5slmPU.1

Passcode:450141

To protect your rights and hold the employer accountable, UNE is filing a group grievance on behalf of all affected Passport members. By standing together, we amplify our voices and strengthen our case.

🖊️ We are inviting you to sign on to this grievance.
✅ Your participation ensures your concerns are formally represented and that management hears us loud and clear.

👉 Visit the Passport Corner for the latest updates and the link to sign on to the grievance.

📩 If you have questions or need support before signing, please contact your Local President or email us at PPT@une-sen.org.

🤝 In solidarity,