The federal government is shutting down some prison workshops and cutting jobs as part of changes to an inmate education program that will save $5 million, BuzzFeed Canada has learned.

Beginning this year, the Correctional Service of Canada will shutter four shops in Alberta and Manitoba, and combine two shops in Ontario.

The cuts will result in the loss of 14 jobs and affect a total of 29 employees. Additional positions will be eliminated through attrition, as existing jobs won't be filled when people leave.

In an internal memo obtained by BuzzFeed Canada, Don Head, commissioner of the federal correctional service, said the shops slotted for closure "were deemed financially unviable" following a review last year of equipment, space, and participation across the country.

The memo says the cuts will help CORCAN — a self-funded vocational program that teaches offenders work skills to help them reintegrate into society after their sentence is up — address a "recurring deficit."

"As you may know, CORCAN is not given an annual budget and must remain financially viable, or break even," Head wrote.

More savings will come from changes to the way CORCAN is run. CSC will centralize operations, affecting all of the program's employees.

"The implementation of the new governance model will impact all CORCAN employees as reporting structures, roles and responsibilities will change," the memo read. "Additional reductions are required, but will be managed through attrition."