Weekly Summary
Feb 16 – Feb 22, 2026
De Beers has begun workforce reduction talks with approximately 5% of employees at the Gahcho Kué diamond mine in the Northwest Territories, affecting around 25 workers out of the mine's 500-person workforce. The layoffs result from the company's decision to pause the Tuzo Phase 3 expansion project due to challenging rough diamond trading conditions and market uncertainty.
Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources laid off 7 non-unionized staff members as part of a restructuring to prioritize economic development and resource-based growth. The layoffs included senior wildlife division positions such as the manager of biodiversity, manager of ecosystems and habitats, and director of wildlife, prompting concerns from conservation groups about the impact on environmental protection in the province.
Rogers Communications laid off over 100 internal IT support roles across several provinces at the start of 2026, mainly affecting Ontario, as it expands work with a third-party vendor that plans to hire most of the affected staff, with no expected impact on employee support services.
Arcadis cut 1,100 jobs in 2025, with many of the layoffs occurring in Canada where the company faced a disappointing real estate market, staff shortages, and rising material prices. The Dutch consulting and engineering firm expects further layoffs in 2026 due to inflation and political uncertainty affecting client project decisions worldwide.
New Gold is eliminating approximately 85 jobs at its New Afton mine in Kamloops, British Columbia. “This reduction is part of the project cycle at the New Afton mine and is unrelated to Coeur Mining’s planned [US$7-billion] acquisition,” the Toronto-based gold miner said in a news release.
Library and Archives Canada announced the elimination of 56 positions. The cuts were reported on February 16, 2026.
For departments outside the core public service, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has told CTV News Ottawa 587 positions will be cut in its department.
The Parole Board of Canada will eliminate 37 positions.
Ubisoft is laying off 40 employees at its Toronto studio as part of a broader cost-saving initiative.
Rivalry Corporation announced substantial workforce reductions and cost cuts following suspension of deposits and wagering on its betting and gaming platform. The company suspended player activity and is exploring strategic alternatives including asset-level transactions, corporate transactions, or restructuring.
Fanshawe College announced an additional 163 job cuts, bringing the total workforce reduction target from 400 to 500 positions, despite receiving new provincial funding. The cuts are driven by lower-than-expected enrollment following federal restrictions on international students, with the college projecting 17,200 current students compared to 22,000 the previous year.