ST. JOHN'S, NL, Sept. 29, 2026 /CNW/ -- Members of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada will rally in downtown St. John's on Friday to raise concerns about the Federal Build Canada Strong Bill and its impact on federal science, professional independence and public-service capacity.

The lunchtime rally will bring together federal scientists and other public-service professionals, including members working at Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Participants will call on the federal government to protect independent scientific and professional judgment, ensure major-project reviews are supported by adequate staffing and expertise, and stop weakening the capacity of the public service at the same time as it demands faster approvals and more complex work.

Bryan Van Wilgenburg, President of PIPSC's Applied Science and Patent Examination Group, will speak about the impact of Bill C-39 on federal science and the broader risks of asking public-service experts to do more, faster, with fewer resources.

The SP Group is currently at the bargaining table with the federal government and has chosen the conciliation/strike route for this round of negotiations, amid growing concerns about cuts to public science, shrinking capacity and threats to evidence-based decision-making.

"This government needs to understand that scientists don't take the possibility of a strike lightly," said Bryan Van Wilgenburg, President of PIPSC's Applied Science and Patent Examination Group. "Our members are bringing forward solutions at the bargaining table. The government has a responsibility to work with us and get a fair deal done."

What: Rally to protect federal science and evidence-based decision-making
When: In person, Friday, October 2, 2026
Where:

• March begins at 12:00 p.m. NDT. Location for the march: Delta Hotel, 120 New Gower St, St. John's, NL A1C 6K4
• Speeches begin at 12:30 p.m. NDT. Location for speeches: Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, 309 Duckworth Street, St. John's

Who: 

• Bryan Van Wilgenburg, President, PIPSC Applied Science and Patent Examination Group
• Jessica McCormick, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour

PIPSC represents over 80,000 public-sector professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government. Follow us on Facebook, on Bluesky and on Instagram.

SOURCE Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)