Montreal, Quebec

Bethesda Game Studios union workers in Montreal are planning a major rally action on July 15 to protest recent Xbox mass layoffs. A total of 440 union positions were eliminated across Bethesda and ZeniMax unions during the layoffs.

Xbox is eliminating 3,200 jobs (20% of workforce) as part of the most significant restructure in Xbox history, with 1,600 employees cut immediately and another 1,600 over the next 12 months. The restructuring includes divesting from five studios including Montreal-based Compulsion Games, which will go independent with runway funding and ownership of its games.

The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) has proposed cutting 117 positions, including attendants and special needs technicians, with the majority supporting special needs students. The proposal has sparked concern among parents and unions, though some of the positions are already vacant.

Eidos Montreal laid off 124 employees in its fourth round of cuts since March 2025, citing changing project needs and impacts across production and support teams. Studio head David Anfossi is also departing, with a transition plan underway for new leadership.

Cirque du Soleil has announced layoffs affecting 70 employees at its Montreal headquarters. The cuts represent efforts to restructure operations at the entertainment company's main office.

Eidos-Montréal laid off 124 employees on March 30, 2026, citing changing project needs and impacts across production and support teams. The layoffs represent part of a larger pattern, with the studio having cut approximately 300 roles since 2024.

Concordia University did not renew the contracts of 57 limited-term appointment professors as part of austerity measures and budget cuts affecting the institution. The layoffs are part of broader education sector budget cuts in Quebec, including a $570 million education budget cut for the 2025-26 school year.

EA has laid off developers across all four Battlefield Studios teams, including the Montreal-based Motive studio, despite Battlefield 6 being the best-selling game of 2025. The exact number of affected employees at each studio remains unclear, though EA stated the changes were made to better align teams around community priorities.

Ssense also reported 20 layoffs in February 2025 and 72 layoffs in May, bringing the total count to 307 in the last year.

As luxury online retailer Ssense battles for survival, the Montreal-based fashion company reported layoffs at their Chabanel St. and St-Laurent locations to the Quebec government last month, bringing the total number of layoffs to 215 since the company filed for bankruptcy protection in August. Ssense also reported 20 layoffs in February 2025 and 72 layoffs in May, bringing the total count to 307 in the last year.

Ssense also reported 20 layoffs in February 2025 and 72 layoffs in May, bringing the total count to 307 in the last year.

Exo, the public transit authority operating commuter trains and buses across the greater Montreal area, is cutting 73 positions representing 11% of its workforce as part of a three-year optimization plan mandated by the Quebec government to reduce spending by $100 million annually by 2028. Management and customer service departments are expected to be hit hardest, with only 16% of the layoffs coming from vacant positions and the remainder involving elimination of currently occupied roles.

Laurentian Bank of Canada announced the sale of its operations after 179 years in business, with approximately 700 of its 2,800 employees to be laid off as all 58 Quebec branches are closed. The bank's commercial operations are being sold to Fairstone Bank of Canada while retail and small business portfolios go to National Bank of Canada.

Concordia University announced it will not renew limited-term contracts for 63 full-time faculty members as of June 2026 due to a 23% drop in international student enrollment and significant budget shortfalls. The cost-cutting measures also include deferring sabbaticals and offering voluntary retirement packages to full-time faculty, driven by federal and provincial immigration policy restrictions that have reduced the university's revenue projections by approximately $84 million.

SRTX Inc., maker of Sheertex pantyhose, is laying off close to 100 employees as part of a strategic review that could result in a company sale or recapitalization. The Montreal-based company hopes to recall the laid-off staff after the review process concludes.