The Conservative government will be cutting 245 jobs from agencies, boards and commissions, a move that will save Ottawa more than $1 million, Treasury Board President Stockwell Day announced Monday.

Treasury Board President Stockwell Day arrives at an Ottawa news conference to announce cuts to 245 patronage jobs on boards, agencies and tribunals. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

About 90 per cent of those jobs eliminated, known as governor-in-council positions, were already vacant, meaning the government won't reappoint people to those spots.

There are about 2,700 governor-in-council positions, which are filled by the cabinet, with the cuts amounting to less than 10 per cent.

Day said that while, "some people might say, well, $1.2 million, that’s not a gigantic amount," the cuts do send a message that the government is committed to tightening its belt.

He said it shows you can operate a particular board or agency without the full complement of individuals that was needed in the first place.

The cuts meant some entire agencies or advisory boards were eliminated, including the 14 positions at the Canadian Council on the Status of the Artist, 15 jobs at the advisory committee for Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, and 19 posts at the Space Advisory Board.

In last week's budget, the government announced it's freezing the budgets for federal departments in an effort to save around $6.8 billion over the next five years.

Day said they will continue reviews for possible savings. He said 17 departments and agencies are being asked to identify five per cent of spending that could be trimmed.

With files from The Canadian Press