Manufacturing

Tree Island Steel, a Richmond, British Columbia-based wire and fabricated wire products manufacturer, implemented a 27% workforce reduction in response to a sharp revenue decline in 2025. The downturn was driven by lower U.S. volumes amid expanded U.S. tariffs, resulting in full-year sales falling to $161.8 million from $207.0 million and a net loss of $5.3 million.

Jahn Engineering, a Windsor-based tool and die shop, has experienced a nearly 70% drop in sales following U.S. policy changes including tariff increases and EV subsidy withdrawals, forcing the company to conduct layoffs. The disruption stems from major automakers canceling or delaying vehicle orders, creating widespread uncertainty across the North American auto supply chain.

Stellantis laid off approximately 20 salaried, non-union employees at its Brampton assembly plant on March 6, 2026, for a 55-week period. The layoffs follow the company's decision to move Jeep Compass production from Brampton to Belvidere, Illinois due to U.S. tariffs on Canadian autos.

London Machinery is laying off approximately 50 of its 200 workers and shifting production to a new plant in Iowa in response to 25% tariffs imposed on Canadian goods sold to the U.S. The London facility will remain open and continue manufacturing concrete mixers for the Canadian market.

General Motors laid off more than 1,000 employees at its CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario due to the end of BrightDrop electric-vehicle production, with an additional 500 employees affected at the Oshawa Assembly plant. The Conservative Party is calling on the federal government to reduce withholding taxes on severance packages for the affected workers.

Palliser Furniture laid off approximately 40 workers in early 2026 due to staffing reorganization and the impact of Trump-era tariffs. At the same time, the company hired about 20 workers for other manufacturing roles at its Winnipeg plant. The layoffs mainly affected employees doing wood frame building, foam cutting, and assembly, while new hires focus on cutting and sewing material, previously done in Mexico.

Domtar will begin laying off 350 workers at its Crofton mill starting February 3, 2026. The union is requesting federal support from a $50-million softwood lumber worker assistance fund to provide early retirement options for affected employees.

General Motors paused production of an electric cargo van at its Ingersoll, Ontario plant, resulting in 1,000 job cuts. The layoffs were attributed to impacts from U.S. President Donald Trump's import tariffs on Canadian goods affecting the auto industry.

Algoma Steel is laying off 1,000 workers at its Sault Ste. Marie facility in March 2026. The United Steelworkers Union and Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition have launched the POWER Action Centre to provide employment support, training advice, and peer-to-peer assistance to affected employees.

Domtar announced the permanent closure of its pulp mill in Crofton, British Columbia, resulting in 350 workers being laid off effective February 2026. The company cited lack of access to economically viable wood fibre as the primary reason for the closure.

Stellantis has made a significant investment in Canada, but Canadian workers, represented by Unifor, are expressing anger regarding the decision. The specific details of the layoffs and investment are not available from the title alone.

West Fraser Timber Co. announced the closure of its lumber mill in 100 Mile House, British Columbia by the end of 2025, resulting in 165 job losses. The company cited inability to reliably access economically viable timber supplies locally and from other regions, compounded by U.S. tariffs on softwood lumber and reduced fibre availability from insect outbreaks and wildfires.

West Fraser announced a mill closure in 100 Mile House, British Columbia, resulting in 165 job losses. The layoffs were announced on November 7, 2025.

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.

Sinclar Group Forest Products announced a 40 per cent reduction in work hours affecting approximately 350 sawmill workers across three B.C. mills (Lakeland Mills in Prince George, Apollo Forest Products in Fort St. James, and Nechako Lumber Co. in Vanderhoof) effective October 27, 2025. The cutbacks were attributed to Trump tariffs and duties on Canadian softwood exports, combined with provincial policy challenges and fibre supply uncertainty.

PACCAR announced 300 additional layoffs at its Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec plant due to heavy-duty truck tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. This follows previous layoffs in December 2024 and July 2025, prompting Unifor to call for a domestic procurement plan to save the facility.

GM Canada is cutting one of three shifts at its Oshawa plant, affecting up to 1,200 autoworkers throughout the auto supply chain, with approximately 500 being direct GM employees. The layoffs take effect on Friday, January 31, 2026, as the company scales back Canadian operations citing forecasted demand and the evolving trade environment.

Molson Coors announced layoffs that will include Canadian workers as part of broader job cuts. The company stated that the layoffs are not driven by tariffs.

General Motors is cutting one of three shifts at its Oshawa plant in January 2026, resulting in approximately 2,000 layoffs. Despite the shift reduction, GM is investing $280 million to build the next generation of Chevrolet Silverados at the plant, which currently employs around 3,000 workers.

General Motors has postponed the closure of its third shift at the Oshawa plant from November 2025 to January 30, 2026, affecting approximately 750 workers. The delay also extends employment for around 1,500 auto parts supplier workers who depend on the plant's production of Chevrolet Silverado trucks.