By Dori Modney with files from David Opinko

Alberta government to cut up to 930 jobs in various ministries, including agriculture

Oct 21, 2020 | 2:42 PM

EDMONTON, AB. — What the Kenney government giveth with one hand, it takes away with another. The Government of Alberta has confirmed hundreds of positions within the provincial government will be abolished or otherwise impacted.

That includes the agriculture ministry which, which the provincial government has tagged as being an important and successful part of Alberta`s economy.

In a letter from the Public Service Commission to the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), the government states it will proceed with a number of initiatives previously stated in pre-bargaining talks in November 2019 and February 2020.

The initiatives could impact up to 930 positions through to the end of the current 2020-21 fiscal year, with positions being abolished, termed employment ended, and redeployment to other roles. Among the government departments impacted will be Agriculture and Forestry.

247 bargaining unit positions are being abolished as part of a “phased workforce transformation.”

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Within forestry, 57 positions will be abolished across the functional areas of wildlife management, forest management, and forest health.

In the agriculture division, approximately 135 positions will be abolished:

• Plant and Bee Health Surveillance, Agriculture Service Boards, Crop Assurance Extension including Farm Safety programs will each be reducing staff and refocusing the work of the programs
• The department will be transitioning research to a farmer-led delivery model, including the creation of the Results Driven Agriculture Research organization that sees post-secondary schools take over research
  • READ MORE: U of L hires three researchers specializing in agricultural studies
  • READ MORE: Lethbridge College to operate two agricultural centres in Alberta
• Realignment of priorities in the Environmental and Farm Stewardship and Irrigation and Farm Water Branches

In the process, trade, and international relations division, 21 positions will be abolished:

• The Business Development Services program will be re-focused on activities that address sector growth and market access issues
• The Food Science and Technology Centre in Brooks, the Food Processing Development Centre in Leduc, and agri-food laboratories for food microbiology, parasitology, and support services will be reduced or eliminated although the large majority of positions in the laboratories will remain

In the strategy, planning, and governance division, 13 positions will be abolished:

• Three positions as a result of administrative and procedural efficiencies
• A new 4-H Alberta governance and operating model will consolidate seven regions and 56 districts into five managed areas. 10 positions will be abolished

Administrative and procedural efficiencies will result in 21 positions being abolished.

A separate letter from the Public Service Commission confirms that 166 permanent encumbered positions will be abolished in Lethbridge, Lethbridge County, Brooks, and Stettler.