Canadian Layoff Tracker
Tracking layoffs across Canada from government notices, SEDAR filings, and media reports
Mastercard plans to reduce its full-time workforce by approximately 4% in 2026 (Reuters). It is still unclear whether Canadian employees at the credit card company will be affected “Based on our recent strategic review, we expect to record a one-time restructuring charge of roughly $200 million in Q1,” CFO Sachin Mehra told analysts during a call on January 29, 2026.
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.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will cut 1,371 jobs as part of the government's cost-cutting exercise, according to the Agriculture Union. The union warns the cuts will lead to a looming food safety crisis and increased foodborne illnesses and disease in livestock and poultry.
Ontario's education minister placed the Peel District School Board under provincial supervision to prevent 60 teacher layoffs that would have affected approximately 1,400 students mid-year. The board has run a deficit for five consecutive years and faces concerns about financial mismanagement.
The Indian Head Research Farm, a federal agricultural research facility operating since 1887, is closing due to federal cutbacks with approximately 40 employees receiving six months notice. The closure is part of a broader federal government effort to cut 16,000 positions across Canada over the next three fiscal years.
Exo, the public transit authority operating commuter trains and buses across the greater Montreal area, is cutting 73 positions representing 11% of its workforce as part of a three-year optimization plan mandated by the Quebec government to reduce spending by $100 million annually by 2028. Management and customer service departments are expected to be hit hardest, with only 16% of the layoffs coming from vacant positions and the remainder involving elimination of currently occupied roles.
The Canadian federal government sent layoff notices to 1,775 public service workers as part of a cost-cutting plan requiring departments to reduce spending by 7.5% by spring 2026, 10% by 2027, and 15% by 2028. The affected departments include Public Services and Procurement Canada (730 notices), Shared Services Canada (530), Statistics Canada (350), and Treasury Board Secretariat (125), among others.
Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario is experiencing a faculty strike after failed negotiations over a new collective agreement. The strike follows the university's bankruptcy-driven restructuring four years ago, which resulted in the elimination of 110 teaching positions and significant cuts to salaries, pensions, and benefits for faculty, librarians, and counsellors.
Ontario's public college sector has shed over 8,000 jobs and axed more than 600 programs over the past year, with Conestoga College issuing approximately 400 layoff notices to faculty and support staff. The sector faces a projected structural deficit of up to $1.5 billion by 2027-28 due to international student revenue losses and underfunding.
Memorial University announced a restructuring effective March 1, 2026, reducing the number of vice-president positions from seven to three, resulting in one employee being laid off. The position of vice president, external relations and advancement, held by Lisa Browne, was eliminated as part of the university's response to a $24-25 million deficit caused by declining enrollment and rising costs.
Health Canada is eliminating 1,092 positions (1,056 employees and 36 executives) as part of the federal government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review (Budget 2025). This total includes vacant positions, projected attrition, and positions to be eliminated through formal workforce adjustment. Of these, 1,092 currently filled positions (1,056 employees and 36 executives) are undergoing formal Workforce Adjustment (WFA) or Career Transition (CT) proceedings — the most direct indicator of employees facing displacement. 2,088 "affected" or "at-risk" status letters have been issued (2,052 to employees, 36 to executives). These notices indicate potential impact and do not necessarily result in departure from the public service. The organization employs 9,628 people in the core public administration as of March 2025. Notifications were issued in Phase 2 of the Government of Canada's workforce reduction process.
Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada is eliminating 28 positions (26 employees and 2 executives) as part of the federal government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review (Budget 2025). This total includes vacant positions, projected attrition, and positions to be eliminated through formal workforce adjustment. Of these, 28 currently filled positions (26 employees and 2 executives) are undergoing formal Workforce Adjustment (WFA) or Career Transition (CT) proceedings — the most direct indicator of employees facing displacement. 41 "affected" or "at-risk" status letters have been issued (39 to employees, 2 to executives). These notices indicate potential impact and do not necessarily result in departure from the public service. The organization employs 679 people in the core public administration as of March 2025. Notifications were issued in Phase 2 of the Government of Canada's workforce reduction process.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is eliminating 665 positions (649 employees and 16 executives) as part of the federal government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review (Budget 2025). This total includes vacant positions, projected attrition, and positions to be eliminated through formal workforce adjustment. Of these, 507 currently filled positions (500 employees and 7 executives) are undergoing formal Workforce Adjustment (WFA) or Career Transition (CT) proceedings — the most direct indicator of employees facing displacement. 1,043 "affected" or "at-risk" status letters have been issued (1,036 to employees, 7 to executives). These notices indicate potential impact and do not necessarily result in departure from the public service. The organization employs 5,690 people in the core public administration as of March 2025. Notifications were issued in Phase 2 of the Government of Canada's workforce reduction process.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is eliminating 65 positions (65 employees) as part of the federal government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review (Budget 2025). This total includes vacant positions, projected attrition, and positions to be eliminated through formal workforce adjustment. Of these, 41 currently filled positions (41 employees) are undergoing formal Workforce Adjustment (WFA) or Career Transition (CT) proceedings — the most direct indicator of employees facing displacement. 82 "affected" or "at-risk" status letters have been issued (82 to employees, 0 to executives). These notices indicate potential impact and do not necessarily result in departure from the public service. The organization employs 579 people in the core public administration as of March 2025. Notifications were issued in Phase 2 of the Government of Canada's workforce reduction process.
Canada School of Public Service is eliminating 66 positions (54 employees and 12 executives) as part of the federal government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review (Budget 2025). This total includes vacant positions, projected attrition, and positions to be eliminated through formal workforce adjustment. Of these, 19 currently filled positions (16 employees and 3 executives) are undergoing formal Workforce Adjustment (WFA) or Career Transition (CT) proceedings — the most direct indicator of employees facing displacement. 20 "affected" or "at-risk" status letters have been issued (17 to employees, 3 to executives). These notices indicate potential impact and do not necessarily result in departure from the public service. The organization employs 597 people in the core public administration as of March 2025. Notifications were issued in Phase 2 of the Government of Canada's workforce reduction process.
Canadian Heritage is eliminating 180 positions (165 employees and 15 executives) as part of the federal government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review (Budget 2025). This total includes vacant positions, projected attrition, and positions to be eliminated through formal workforce adjustment. Of these, 120 currently filled positions (112 employees and 8 executives) are undergoing formal Workforce Adjustment (WFA) or Career Transition (CT) proceedings — the most direct indicator of employees facing displacement. 352 "affected" or "at-risk" status letters have been issued (344 to employees, 8 to executives). These notices indicate potential impact and do not necessarily result in departure from the public service. The organization employs 1,910 people in the core public administration as of March 2025. Notifications were issued in Phase 2 of the Government of Canada's workforce reduction process.
Correctional Service Canada is eliminating 419 positions (406 employees and 13 executives) as part of the federal government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review (Budget 2025). This total includes vacant positions, projected attrition, and positions to be eliminated through formal workforce adjustment. Of these, 302 currently filled positions (295 employees and 7 executives) are undergoing formal Workforce Adjustment (WFA) or Career Transition (CT) proceedings — the most direct indicator of employees facing displacement. 620 "affected" or "at-risk" status letters have been issued (611 to employees, 9 to executives). These notices indicate potential impact and do not necessarily result in departure from the public service. The organization employs 18,902 people in the core public administration as of March 2025. Notifications were issued in Phase 2 of the Government of Canada's workforce reduction process.
Employment and Social Development Canada is eliminating 5,411 positions (5,313 employees and 98 executives) as part of the federal government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review (Budget 2025). This total includes vacant positions, projected attrition, and positions to be eliminated through formal workforce adjustment. Of these, 970 currently filled positions (931 employees and 39 executives) are undergoing formal Workforce Adjustment (WFA) or Career Transition (CT) proceedings — the most direct indicator of employees facing displacement. 3,075 "affected" or "at-risk" status letters have been issued (3,028 to employees, 47 to executives). These notices indicate potential impact and do not necessarily result in departure from the public service. The organization employs 42,520 people in the core public administration as of March 2025. Notifications were issued in Phase 2 of the Government of Canada's workforce reduction process.
Environment and Climate Change Canada is eliminating 838 positions (801 employees and 37 executives) as part of the federal government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review (Budget 2025). This total includes vacant positions, projected attrition, and positions to be eliminated through formal workforce adjustment. Of these, 594 currently filled positions (565 employees and 29 executives) are undergoing formal Workforce Adjustment (WFA) or Career Transition (CT) proceedings — the most direct indicator of employees facing displacement. 1,035 "affected" or "at-risk" status letters have been issued (998 to employees, 37 to executives). These notices indicate potential impact and do not necessarily result in departure from the public service. The organization employs 8,778 people in the core public administration as of March 2025. Notifications were issued in Phase 2 of the Government of Canada's workforce reduction process.
Global Affairs Canada is eliminating 840 positions (780 employees and 60 executives) as part of the federal government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review (Budget 2025). This total includes vacant positions, projected attrition, and positions to be eliminated through formal workforce adjustment. Of these, 543 currently filled positions (483 employees and 60 executives) are undergoing formal Workforce Adjustment (WFA) or Career Transition (CT) proceedings — the most direct indicator of employees facing displacement. 3,715 "affected" or "at-risk" status letters have been issued (3,309 to employees, 406 to executives). These notices indicate potential impact and do not necessarily result in departure from the public service. The organization employs 7,657 people in the core public administration as of March 2025. Notifications were issued in Phase 2, Phase 3 of the Government of Canada's workforce reduction process.