‘That’s what we’re trying to understand. How does that plan make sense?’

Union leaders say a plan to centralize Parks Canada’s NWT wardens in Yellowknife, rather than at the parks themselves, is illogical and ill-thought-out.

Parks Canada – which is making cuts to its staffing across the country – is keeping the existing three park wardens in the NWT, but moving them to the territorial capital.

Wardens are a type of specialist law enforcement. They enforce federal legislation in national parks and national park reserves and “protect natural and cultural resources,” according to Parks Canada.

Until now, wardens have been stationed at the Nahanni National Park Reserve and Wood Buffalo National Park, said union the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

Yellowknife is “nowhere near any national parks,” said Josée-Anne Spirito, regional executive vice-president for PSAC North, in an interview with Cabin Radio last week. “We’re still trying to understand: how does that plan make sense?”

Spirito said the move affects “people who have roots and who have a deep sense of community in the places where they live.”

“We’re still trying to wrap our heads around what that means operationally. How will the work they do continue to happen, or what does that look like moving forward?”

Parks Canada said the move will “improve regional coverage, enhance officer safety, and strengthen operational flexibility.”

Providing the Nahanni National Park Reserve as an example, the federal agency said in a Monday statement that given the “significant travel requirements and isolated nature of enforcement work,” employing a single warden based in Fort Simpson – on the edge of the Nahanni – was “not ideal.”

“Parks Canada remains committed to providing law enforcement services that support resource protection, public safety, and the visitor experience at Nahanni National Park Reserve, as well as other Parks Canada-administered sites across the country,” Parks Canada stated.

“Nahanni National Park Reserve will continue to have numerous other staff located on site carrying out a range of functions, including conservation, stewardship, monitoring, and visitor safety and services.”

‘More sustainable’ public service

The changes arrive as Parks Canada lists 67 of its 147 staff in the NWT as potentially affected by coming job cuts.

Being affected means an employee will receive a letter suggesting their job could be moved or changed. Not every affected position will necessarily be cut.

Across the country, about 2,900 positions at Parks Canada are considered affected. Parks Canada has said it expects the resulting job loss to be the equivalent of about 500 full-time positions.

The proposed cuts were initiated by Prime Minister Mark Carney last year and described as returning the public service to “a more sustainable level.” There were 368,000 public service workers in 2023-24, according to federal documentation, and the federal government maintains that an appropriate figure is 330,000.

Spirito said the consequences of cuts or job relocations affecting smaller NWT communities extend beyond the individuals involved.

“These are very good-paying public service jobs in smaller communities. These are people who have lived in these communities, the majority of them, all their lives, and deeply care about their community and the work that they do for Canadians every day,” she said.

“Any cut in the North means a reduction in services. This is another service to Canadians that is being taken away. We know it means a reduction in services for northerners.”

Natasha Bulowski contributed reporting.