A significant union has raised alarms regarding the impending loss of nearly 10,000 jobs within Ontario’s public college sector this year. Alongside this revelation, severe allegations against government officials have been contested.
The situation has become critical as Ontario’s public colleges face heartbreaking layoffs. A union has disclosed that these institutions are collectively approaching a staggering job loss of 10,000 positions. By June, reports indicated that 19 colleges had already announced staff reductions totaling over 8,000 employees. However, this figure does not account for additional layoffs yet to be reported, suggesting that the finalized number could exceed 10,000.
In a related context, data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has shown a worrying trend. In the first quarter of 2025, Canada issued 31% fewer study permits to Indian nationals than in the same period the previous year, dropping from 44,295 to just 30,650. Experts attribute the layoffs and program cuts to a significant decline in international student enrollment.
This alarming report on the future of Ontario’s colleges follows the closure of more than 600 college programs. Speaking at a press conference outside Centennial College’s Story Arts Centre in Toronto, Ontario Public Service Employees Union President JP Hornick stated, “We’re witnessing one of the largest mass layoffs in Ontario’s history. This situation surpasses the Hudson’s Bay liquidation, which resulted in 8,000 job losses across Canada.”
The union, which represents around 55,000 faculty and support staff members, has warned that the upcoming layoffs could have generational consequences. Hornick emphasized the necessity for robust colleges that provide accessible job training, particularly amid the challenges posed by trade wars that are reshaping the economy. He noted that approximately 1.5 million Ontarians—nearly 10% of the population—have experienced a campus closure in their community, underscoring the critical nature of the situation.
