Canadian Layoff Tracker
Aggregating layoffs across Canada from employment standards filings, government notices, SEDAR+ corporate disclosures, union announcements, and verified media reporting
Last updated: March 26, 2026 at PDT
People Laid Off
Companies
Industries Affected
Canadian Layoff Trends
This tracker currently covers layoff events from 203 companies, affecting more than 105,042 workers across Canada. Data is sourced from government labour adjustment notices, SEDAR filings, union statements, and verified media reporting.
The technology, financial services, and retail sectors have historically accounted for the largest share of reported layoffs — a pattern consistent with broader North American economic cycles. Ontario and British Columbia, home to the greatest concentration of corporate headquarters, tend to represent the largest share of national layoff volumes.
About the Data
Mandatory public disclosure thresholds vary by province. Smaller employers — particularly those below statutory headcount minimums — are often not required to file public notices, which means the figures tracked here represent a conservative floor, not a complete census. Unreported layoffs, especially in sectors with high contractor and part-time workforces, may be substantially higher.
This site is updated continuously as new filings and reports become available. If you are aware of a layoff event not yet listed, please send us a tip.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University announced plans for up to 45 additional full-time staff layoffs due to a 60% decline in international student enrolment caused by federal government study permit processing delays and increased denial rates. The cuts are necessary to address a projected $5-10 million revenue drop for the 2025-26 budget, with eight business school instructors receiving layoff notices with January 2026 end dates.
Okanagan College is laying off four faculty/instructors and closing the Modern Languages department due to a projected loss of 600-700 international students. The college previously offered a voluntary early retirement incentive program (ERIP) to mitigate layoffs, but additional difficult staffing decisions are expected in the coming weeks and months.
Island Health has eliminated 117 non-union jobs as part of a cost-cutting exercise under provincial direction, representing approximately 5% of the organization's 2,500 non-contract employees. The cuts are part of a mandate to reduce administrative roles and redirect resources toward front-line patient care, with a target of up to 10% reduction expected to continue for a few more weeks.
Vancouver, Canada-based Canfor Corp. is closing sawmills in Darlington and Estill, South Carolina, laying off 290 workers. The company cited persistently weak market conditions and sustained financial losses as reasons for the mill closures.
The Vancouver Art Gallery is cutting approximately 30% of its staff (34 employees) and reducing programming by 30% to balance its budget. The reductions include 16 voluntary departures and 18 layoffs, with additional job losses possible through a union seniority process affecting all departments.
Microsoft announced layoffs of 9,000 employees globally, representing 4% of its workforce, as part of a major restructuring effort. The article mentions a Microsoft building in Vancouver, BC, Canada, indicating Canadian operations are affected by these layoffs.
Klue Labs CEO Jason Smith announced layoffs of 85 employees (40% of workforce) in June 2025 as part of a strategic shift to integrate generative AI into all operations and improve competitiveness. The company offered voluntary buyout packages while also conducting involuntary layoffs across all departments, with the expectation that remaining employees would embrace AI tools.
The College of New Caledonia is facing program cuts and suspensions, with eight programs already cut and additional suspensions anticipated. The cuts are attributed to federal changes to international student laws and the college's over-reliance on international student funding.
Selkirk College in British Columbia laid off faculty and staff due to a 32% drop in international student enrollment this year, resulting in a projected $3-4 million budget shortfall. The college also closed several learning centers and specialized arts programs as it adapted to new federal immigration rules that rendered popular post-graduate programs ineligible for post-graduate work permits.
The City of Vancouver has implemented a back-to-office mandate requiring non-union employees to return five days per week and unionized staff three days per week starting January 1, 2026, amid cost-cutting measures ahead of the 2026 budget. Some non-union employees have already been laid off in recent months, with potentially hundreds of additional job cuts expected, and the city manager has mentioned offering early retirement and incentives for departure from the organization.
Coast Mountain College in northwest British Columbia is closing its Hazelton campus and cutting staff by approximately 20 percent to offset a $4 million annual budget shortfall caused by a 90 percent drop in international student enrollment. The college is also selling buildings in Houston and Kitimat while maintaining operations in Terrace, Prince Rupert, Smithers, and Haida Gwaii.
Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C. is laying off approximately 40 staff members (with union bumping considered) out of 65 initially notified, due to a $7-10 million budget deficit. The layoffs are part of broader cost-cutting measures and follow a federal decision to reduce international student permits, which has created financial pressures across Canadian universities.