Toronto, Ontario

Lightspeed Commerce has significantly reduced headcount in its customer support team after AI resolved over 80 percent of inbound chat interactions. The company boosted overall gross margins through this AI-driven workforce reduction.

Hudson's Bay laid off 41 staff as it continues to unwind operations one year after filing for creditor protection on March 7, 2025. The retailer closed all 80 of its stores by June 2025 due to $1.1 billion in insurmountable debt, with 73 of the 96 vacated HBC and Saks properties remaining unopened as of March 2026.

TD Bank announced a 3% workforce reduction as part of restructuring efforts to boost productivity and minimize real estate investments. The layoffs were announced in December 2025, revised from an earlier 2% reduction proposed in May 2025.

Simons laid off multiple employees at its newly-opened Eaton Centre location in Toronto shortly before Black Friday, with workers dismissed just before the end of their probation period and minimal explanation provided. Former employees allege the manager exhibited passive-aggressive behavior and public reprimands, and criticized the timing of the layoffs during the busy holiday season when retail companies typically hire additional staff.

Shopify Inc. announced layoffs to keep its team 'fast, sharp and focused.' The specific number of employees affected was not disclosed in the announcement. Spokesperson Ben McConaghy would not provide a number of workers losing their jobs but says in an email to The Canadian Press that the cuts impact a “fraction of a per cent” of Shopify’s team. Financial markets firm LSEG Data & Analytics counted 8,100 Shopify employees as of December 2024. One per cent of that figure amounts to about 81 staff.

Toronto-based Clutch laid off 148 staff members, representing approximately two-thirds of its workforce. The layoffs followed rapid expansion into western provinces as the company pulled back to refocus on its core business in Eastern Canada.

Rockstar Games, owned by Take-Two Interactive Software, terminated 34 employees across the U.K. and Canada, with approximately 3 workers in Toronto being affected. The union alleges this was union-busting activity, while Rockstar claims the employees were engaged in gross misconduct and leaking company secrets.