From 2015 to 2024, the federal government increased its workforce by over 110,000 bureaucrats. Published on October 14, 2025, this article highlights a recent poll indicating strong support among Canadians for downsizing the federal bureaucracy, a sentiment that spans the political spectrum. Among those on the political right, 82.8% favor reducing the federal bureaucracy, while only 5.8% oppose it (with the remainder neutral). For political moderates, 68.4% are in favor and 10.0% against, and among the political left, 44.8% support the reduction while 26.3% do not.
Overall, 67% of respondents believe the federal bureaucracy should be significantly cut, with only 12% in disagreement. This widespread support is not surprising, given the substantial growth of the federal bureaucracy. Between 2015 and 2024, the number of bureaucrats increased by 43%, nearly three times the rate of population growth.
This expansion appears unwarranted; for instance, Natural Resources Canada saw a 39% increase in headcount despite a 1% decline in employment within Canada’s natural resources sector. Similarly, the federal department for Women and Gender Equality experienced a staggering 382% growth in staff, far exceeding the actual increase in Canada’s female population. Numerous other examples reflect this trend.
In 2025, although the number of federal public service jobs decreased by 3%, the overall cost of the bureaucracy rose, as the number of full-time equivalents—considering both full-time and part-time positions—increased. Given the significant rise in the tax burden associated with the federal bureaucracy over the past decade, it is understandable that Canadians largely support its reduction.
Another noteworthy finding from the poll revealed that 42% of respondents endorsed the government’s use of artificial intelligence tools to address service delivery bottlenecks, while 32% opposed it, and 25% were undecided. The poll’s authors noted that the plurality in favor is surprising, considering the novelty of the technology.