Gift-Giving Pressures, Saskatchewan Retail Theft, Government Hiring and Layoffs, Teacher Award in Alberta

In this episode: about federal hiring challenges, teacher recruitment incentives in northern Alberta, gift-giving pressures in the workplace, rising holiday retail theft in Saskatchewan and other topics.

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1. Canada’s federal public service is beginning a wave of workforce adjustments as Ottawa implements job-cut targets from the 2025 federal budget | What departments have begun notifying public servants of cuts? | Ottawa Citizen 
2. Canada’s federal government is facing growing pressure to accelerate the hiring process | Federal government must accelerate hiring process, Public Service Commission of Canada says 
3. The Government of Alberta has introduced the Northern Alberta Teacher Award to draw educators to rural and northern communities facing teacher shortages | Attracting more teachers to northern Alberta | alberta.ca 
4. As the holiday shopping season gets underway, police and retailers in Saskatchewan are reporting a sharp rise in retail theft and related crime | Holiday retail theft rises as Sask. police launch December blitz | 980 CJME 
5. As the holiday season unfolds the festive spirit at work often comes with pressure for employees to offer gifts adding to the financial toll | Behind the Holiday Glow: Employees Feel Gift-Giving Pressure, and Nearly Half Say It Hurts Their Wallet | EEP CA Corporate 
6. Robert Half Canada survey reveals that one-third of employed Canadian professionals plan to search for a new job in the first half of the year | Survey: One third of Canadian professionals plan to search for a new job in 2026 - Dec 10, 2025