Monthly Summary
March 2026
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.
London Health Sciences Centre is eliminating more than 212 registered nursing (RN) positions over the next three to five years as part of a restructuring process to align staffing levels with other Ontario hospitals. The cuts will occur through attrition via voluntary resignations and retirements, while the hospital simultaneously hires 108 registered practical nurses (RPNs) during the same period.
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.
The Nova Scotia government cut $1.05 million in funding for Eight Early Years Professional Support sites, resulting in the closure of these in-person professional development workshops for early childhood educators. Seven staff members at NSCC campuses and one coordinator position at Jane Norman College were impacted by these budget cuts.
Canadian transportation company Day Ross Transit is laying off 100 workers at its Hamilton, Ontario facility. The layoff affects operations at the company's city of Hamilton site.
LifeLabs is cutting its 40-person Sudbury, Ontario workforce in half, resulting in 20 layoffs. The company cancelled its previously planned facility closure scheduled for May 17, 2026, and will instead continue operations with a reduced staff while prioritizing current employees for newly available roles.
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.
Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway has had its Canadian operating licence suspended by the Canadian Transportation Agency, requiring the company to shut down all Canadian operations by August 20, 2026. The company has already laid off 24 employees in Quebec, representing just over one-quarter of its provincial workforce, with additional job losses expected in Farnham where the company operates an office and train yard.
Batshaw Youth & Family Centres cut ten youth worker positions at the Centre de réadaptation jeunesse de Prévost in Quebec's Laurentians region. These layoffs eliminated 30 shifts per week, and staff members report that successive job cuts have impeded supervision of youth in their care.
Conestoga College completed a layoff round in March 2026 affecting nearly 400 full-time employees, with 181 faculty members and 197 support staff either leaving or transitioning to part-time work. The union president indicated this was devastating for affected employees and suggested additional job cuts may follow.
Mohawk College laid off 62 full-time employees and eliminated 10 vacant positions, with most reductions in administrative and support staff groups and a small number of faculty positions affected. The college began restructuring after projecting a $50 million deficit in fall 2024, partly due to reduced international student enrollment caused by federal government cuts to international student admission caps.
El-Met-Parts Inc., a steel fabrication company in Dundas, Ontario, laid off all 31 unionized workers on March 20, 2026, citing financial difficulties related to U.S. steel tariffs. The company filed for creditor protection in November 2025 and has proposed rehiring workers as contractors without union protection or severance.
NorQuest College is reducing its workforce by 100 positions as part of a restructuring to align staffing with current enrolment outlook and financial pressures. The layoffs are expected to be completed by mid-April 2026, with affected employees receiving severance, health, and career support.
Okanagan College laid off 12 staff members and offered 34 early retirement packages, totaling 46 positions eliminated, due to a significant drop in international student enrollment following federal restrictions on study permits. The college also cut the Modern Languages in Arts program and suspended a Science in Nursing partnership program with UBC Okanagan.
The head of B.C.'s Agricultural Land Commission announced that job cuts are coming to the independent agency that decides how protected farmland is used in the province. The layoffs come amid a broader debate over the best approach to preserve the province's prime agricultural land.
OpenText, a Waterloo-based technology company, has reportedly eliminated a significant number of jobs in March 2026 as part of what some employees describe as a recurring annual practice. The layoffs represent approximately 5% of the workforce and are characterized as part of a 'yearly spring cleaning' business optimization effort.
Humber Polytechnic announced involuntary layoffs of faculty and support staff after a voluntary exit package failed to address the college's fiscal gap for 2026–27. The layoffs follow a federal cap on international students, which significantly impacted revenue at Ontario's largest college with 76,000 students.
The Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA) is suspending its medical transportation program in Thunder Bay, Ontario as of April 1, 2026, resulting in the layoff of more than 20 First Nation staff members. The program suspension is due to lack of proportional funding from Indigenous Services Canada and the Non-Insured Health Benefits program despite providing approximately 38,000 rides since its launch in April 2024.
Ontario hospitals have eliminated approximately 700 front-line nursing and health worker positions since January 2025, primarily as cost-cutting measures to address dire financial straits. More than 100 Ontario hospitals are forecasting year-end deficits despite facing a combined $1.8-billion working capital deficit.
The Carney government has implemented budget cuts affecting staff at Global Affairs Canada and Economic and Social Development Canada, with positions responsible for combatting forced labour imports being wound down. The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) has been left without a permanent leader for 10 months, raising concerns about potential staff reductions and organizational dismantling.
Bruyere hospital announced the elimination of 55 positions (46 personal support workers and 9 registered practical nurses) in response to a budget deficit. The layoffs have prompted over 100 health care workers to rally and urge the Ford government to stop cuts and fund hospital services.
Canada's largest hospital network, University Health Network (UHN), cut 28 registered nurse positions, primarily in a critical kidney care unit (hemodialysis unit). The Ontario Nurses Association warned that these cuts worsen staffing shortages, burnout, and patient safety risks in a province already facing the lowest number of registered nurses per capita in the country.
University of the Fraser Valley laid off 45 faculty and staff positions due to a $20 million deficit caused by a significant decline in international student enrollment. The layoffs included 6 teaching faculty reductions, 4 non-teaching faculty reductions, and 35 staff reductions, along with 3 involuntary workload reductions.
Keyano College in Fort McMurray is preparing for a second year of layoffs due to a projected 40 per cent drop in student enrolment, attributed to federal limits on international students. The college cut or merged 70 positions during the 2024-25 academic year and expects similar cuts in the 2026-27 academic year as enrolment is expected to drop from 2,500 to 1,500 full-time student equivalents.
Starbucks plans to close hundreds of stores across the US, Canada, and Europe. The company will lay off 900 nonretail employees as part of this restructuring.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society shut down its offices and laid off all remaining staff in November 2025 under previous management. A newly installed board of directors is now attempting to revive the struggling organization, which has accumulated tens of thousands of dollars in debt.
Algoma Steel is laying off 300 employees beginning Monday, March 24, 2026. The layoffs are partially attributed to tariffs impacting the steelmaking operation in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Federal departments and agencies plan to cut more than 12,000 full-time equivalent positions over the next three years as part of the Carney government's spending review. Specific cuts include 1,793 positions at Public Services and Procurement Canada, 900 jobs at Statistics Canada, and 942 at Health Canada, with additional reductions across multiple other federal agencies.
JD Power rescinded summer internship offers for approximately 25 Western University students just weeks before they were scheduled to start in May 2026. The company cited the shifting engineering and software landscape driven by AI and automation as reasons for reducing demand for entry-level roles.
The article discusses ongoing labour negotiations between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Treasury Board for the TC (Translation) group. More than 13,000 PSAC members have received notices that they could lose their jobs due to restructuring and workforce reductions across the federal public service.
Providence University College and Theological Seminary is laying off 10 per cent of its workforce and downsizing academic programming due to losing 90 per cent of its international student body. The faith-based institution's revenue has dropped from $26 million to a projected $13.5 million as a result of federal restrictions on international student study permits.
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.
The Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre will experience staff layoffs and reduced capacity due to Nova Scotia provincial budget cuts that did not restore funding to youth outreach, family resource, and after-school programs. The centre's critical preventative supports for Indigenous youth and families, including justice system navigation and domestic violence prevention services, remain at risk following the partial reversal of the provincial government's controversial budget cuts.
The Bureau of Pension Advocates, a Veterans Affairs bureau that provides free legal advice to veterans and RCMP members denied disability benefits, is eliminating almost 100 temporary positions including 24 lawyers. This represents a 44 per cent workforce reduction that unions and MPs warn could negatively impact services for veterans.
Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia laid off 31 unionized and non-unionized staff members in administrative and service roles due to financial pressures including enrolment shifts, funding constraints, and rising operating costs. The layoffs affected positions including Wong International Centre staff, health promotions staff, and student counsellors, but did not impact academic and teaching positions.
Mission Hill Vineyards laid off workers following a catastrophic winter freeze that caused significant reduction in operations. A British Columbia arbitrator dismissed a grievance seeking severance pay for one of the affected workers.
Camosun College announced workforce adjustments due to a $7.2-9 million budget cut caused by a 60% drop in international student enrollment. The college has issued Section 54 notices to its three unions and is exploring alternatives to layoffs including early retirements, voluntary severance, and reduced term contracts, though exact numbers of affected employees have not been disclosed.
North Island College is cutting teaching and administrative positions, affecting approximately 10 full-time equivalent jobs, due to an $8.4 million decline in international revenue by 2027 caused by federal immigration policy changes. The college is also suspending 15 programs and reviewing offerings with lower enrolment to address significant financial challenges.
Nova Scotia Community College announced a $9.4 million cut to its operating grant that will result in approximately 230 job losses over the next four years, equivalent to eliminating one large campus. The cuts are expected to reduce staffing by three percent annually, with union representatives warning of significant impacts on student programs and the provincial economy.
Peel District School Board issued layoff notices affecting 331 permanent teachers (159 secondary and 172 elementary) effective August 31, 2026, citing declining enrollment and budget constraints. The layoffs were announced after the Ontario government took over the board's operations in January 2026 and rejected the board's request to use $1-2 million from its $130 million reserves to prevent the job cuts.
Thompson Rivers University has shed more than 10% of its workforce in the last 15 months due to a 26% drop in international enrolment caused by federal immigration policy changes. The university expects to slash an additional $25 million from next year's budget, with ongoing layoffs and potential elimination of five academic student services due to unfilled retirements and sabbaticals.
Fifty-five front-line nurses and personal support workers at Ottawa's Bruyère Health are facing layoffs, according to their union. The organization is referring to the action as a 'redeployment process.'
College of New Caledonia is permanently closing its Fort St. James campus on March 31, 2026, due to an $8 million revenue shortfall caused by caps on international student visas. The closure follows previous staff layoffs and relocations at the campus, which previously served approximately 200 students in programs like culinary arts and trades.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BCE Inc. cut 1700 net jobs in 2025, reducing its workforce from 40,390 to 38,683 employees, marking the second consecutive year of major losses. The layoffs, attributed to industry contraction, cost-cutting measures, and technology upgrades, included 650 management positions and 40 Bell Media employees.
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.
Loopio is reportedly cutting 30 positions in March 2026 as part of a restructuring effort. The specific details regarding affected provinces, cities, and percentage of workforce are not available from the title alone.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will cut 76 positions at its national headquarters in Ottawa as the national police force looks to find billions of dollars in savings in its budget.
George Brown Polytechnic triggered a mass termination process for 51 employees (22 hourly and 29 salaried) due to a 29% decline in full-time enrolment and financial pressures from federal international student caps and stagnant provincial funding. The layoffs represent cuts across all departments following the suspension of several hospitality and culinary arts programs at the St. James campus.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University is laying off unionized staff and cutting costs due to a sharp drop in international student enrolment, aiming to save $5 million—about 40–45 full-time positions—through staff reductions, frozen overtime, and unfilled vacancies.
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.
Trinity Western University is laying off approximately 75 staff members due to federal restrictions on international student study permits, which have reduced enrolment and created financial pressures. The cuts are part of cost-saving measures implemented across the Canadian post-secondary landscape following a 7% reduction in maximum international student permits for 2026.
Meanwhile, at Vancouver Community College, the administration says that 70 regular faculty member will be losing their jobs.
Vendasta has confirmed layoffs at its Saskatoon office, cutting 20 employees, roughly 3% of its workforce. Most affected roles were in content creation. The company attributed the reductions to shifts in the software market driven by artificial intelligence.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic says a perpetual threat of layoffs and program cuts is starting to wear down faculty. The school recently eliminated 23 full-time and part-time jobs and is suspending its health information management program for the 2026–27 school year. According to Sask. Polytechnic, the moves are the result of "a financial shortfall resulting from federal immigration policy changes" and are needed "to support long-term program sustainability."
Conestoga College cut nearly 400 full-time staff positions in March 2026, including 181 faculty members and 197 support staff who either left the college or were forced into part-time roles. This represents one of the largest Ontario college layoffs on record.
Algoma Steel laid off approximately 1,000 steelworkers in March 2026 due to U.S. tariffs and the company's transition to electric steelmaking. The layoffs significantly impacted the Sault Ste. Marie region and eliminated potential job creation opportunities tied to a failed South Korean submarine contract bid.
Brock University has undertaken staffing cuts that predominantly targeted female union workers, with replacement roles being non-unionized positions. The cuts have drawn criticism from students and faculty who view them as part of a broader pattern of reducing support for higher education access.