Monthly Summary
November 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.
Red River College Polytechnic is laying off 44 staff members at its Centre for Newcomer Integration in spring 2026, consisting of 13 permanent positions and 31 term positions expiring March 31, due to federal funding cuts to language training programs. The layoffs will reduce the centre's annual capacity from 6,700 seats to 1,360 and eliminate stage two language training, affecting approximately 1,400 newcomers.
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.
Horizon Media laid off six senior executives as part of organizational changes. The affected employees held positions including investment director, strategy supervisor, associate director of strategy, group account director, director of innovation, trading manager, and planning director roles.
Drax, a U.K.-based renewable energy company, announced the closure of its wood pellet plant in Williams Lake, B.C., effective by the end of 2025, resulting in 30 job losses. The closure is attributed to the curtailment and closure of nearby sawmills and reduced fibre availability, making operations no longer commercially viable.
The Canadian federal government's implementation of AI translation tools (GCtranslate) is expected to result in approximately 339 job losses among the 1,300+ employees in the Translation Bureau. The union representing translators and language experts warns that relying on AI without human oversight risks translation quality and threatens the protection of French language services across Canadian government operations.
Bell Canada laid off approximately 700 managers in a mass restructuring described as highly efficient with minimal legal resistance. The layoffs were driven by cost-cutting to improve earnings and hit performance targets rather than crisis response.
Bell Media, a subsidiary of BCE, announced layoffs of 40 positions as part of wider cost-cutting measures at the parent company. The cuts represent ongoing restructuring efforts within Canada's telecommunications and media sector.
BCE Inc. is laying off nearly 700 non-unionized employees, including approximately 650 management positions across Bell Canada and 40 roles at Bell Media, as part of its three-year strategy to reduce leverage and focus on growth areas. The layoffs represent just under 2 per cent of Bell Canada's workforce and just under 1 per cent of Bell Media's employees, with the Bell Media cuts predominantly in corporate departments including four news management roles in Toronto.
Canada Post announced at its annual public meeting that it is 'effectively insolvent' with operating losses exceeding $1 billion in 2025 and hinted at significant job cuts through attrition. CEO Doug Ettinger stated the corporation anticipates over 16,000 employee retirements or departures by 2030 and another 14,000 by 2035 as part of plans to become a leaner organization.
Warner Music Canada laid off at least 24 employees across multiple departments including marketing, A&R, catalogue, design, and sales, representing approximately 13% of its 185-person workforce. The layoffs were announced on November 18, 2025, the same day new co-general managers Julia Hummel and Madelaine Napoleone were appointed, as part of a global restructuring initiative by Warner Music Group.
Serco, the private company operating 5 Wing Goose Bay military base in Newfoundland and Labrador, laid off five civilian employees including a customer service manager, mechanic, supply operative, workforce planner and HR coordinator. The layoffs were announced despite the federal government's recent commitment to increase defence spending by $81.8 billion over the next five years.
The federal government's Budget 2025 includes plans to cut 16,000 full-time equivalent positions across dozens of departments over the next three fiscal years, with the goal of reducing the federal public service to 333,000 employees by 2029. Major savings targets include the Canada Revenue Agency ($4.1B), Housing/Infrastructure/Communities ($5.4B), and Veterans Affairs ($4.1B), achieved through program closures, operational efficiencies, and increased AI automation.
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.
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.
Mohawk College laid off at least 380 employees and suspended more than a dozen programs in late 2024 and early 2025 to address an expected $50-million deficit caused by federal caps on international student permits. The college's cuts are part of a broader crisis affecting Ontario colleges, which have collectively cut $1.8 billion, suspended over 600 programs, and eliminated more than 8,000 positions due to reduced international student enrollment.
George Brown College suspended enrolment in two hospitality programs (hospitality/hotel operations management and food and beverage/restaurant management) at its Toronto chef school, while continuing to offer these diplomas through a partnership with The North Land Institute of Training in Dubai. The decision has drawn criticism from faculty unions and government officials for prioritizing international operations over Ontario students and local employment needs.
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.
Bank of Canada layoffs affecting employees across the country. The article discusses employee rights, severance pay, and related information for affected workers.
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.
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.
Planned Parenthood Ottawa laid off all six front-line staff members due to a cash crisis caused by stagnating government and community grant funding combined with increased demand for services. The organization, which has operated in Ottawa since the 1960s, is now operating with only its executive director and volunteers while seeking additional grants expected in February.