Quebec says it will cut the equivalent of 5,000 civil service positions by March 2027

The Quebec government is planning to eliminate the equivalent of 5,000 full-time positions in the civil service by March 2027.

Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau also says that by the end of January government employees will work in the office three days a week instead of two.

Get daily National news

Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

She says the measures are aimed at increasing government efficiency.

The province estimates it has already eliminated more than 2,000 full-time equivalent positions this fiscal year, as part of its goal to reach 5,000.

It will rely on various measures to reach its target, including a hiring freeze and possibly reducing the work week to 32 hours.

Premier François Legault has been criticized for allowing the size of Quebec’s civil service to swell in recent years after promising to make cuts.