It is NOT true that new permanent employees are hired to be laid off and to protect the other folks. There is no such scheme and no one DARES to do like that !
LZ shall read all guidelines regarding collective bargaining and guidelines from Treasury Board.
Your HS is in probation period and won't have the 4 months + 1 year protection while in probation. However, he can't be laid off for course without a very elaborate process. To be laid off as work force reduction, it is generally not on individual basis but on program basis. This again can be found in Treasury Board guidelines.
So, enjoy the weekend and try to do the study yourself. Most people on CFC are nice. But you always expect a bunch that don't draw the line of joking and serious business ...