Hundreds of policy analysts are losing their jobs in the latest rounds of cuts to the public service.
Union officials say the cuts raise serious questions about how exactly the Harper government will formulate policies in the months to come.
About 690 members of the union representing economists and social scientists were told today that their jobs are on the line, joining another 160 who were informed last week.
The analysts work everywhere from Health Canada to the Privy Council Office.
They're part of a larger group of 19,200 civil servants being axed in the aftermath of the federal budget.
The Conservatives say the cuts are necessary to streamline the civil service and achieve $5.2-billion in savings over the next three years.