In what is being noted as one of the largest mass layoffs in Ontario’s education sector, nearly 10,000 college faculty and staff positions have been eliminated or are slated for cuts due to a deepening crisis in funding and student enrolment.
According to a report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents around 55,000 faculty and support staff, has warned that the province’s college system is in deep trouble, pointing to large-scale programme cancellations and staff reductions.
What’s causing the massive layoffs?
The primary trigger behind these developments is a sharp drop in international student enrolments across Ontario colleges. Following the federal government’s decision to impose a cap on international study permits, post-secondary institutions in the province have seen a 48% decline in first-semester international student admissions between September 2023 and September 2024, the Canadian national public broadcaster reported. This has severely impacted tuition revenue, which colleges heavily rely on.
A faculty contract document cited by the CBC showed that 23 out of 24 publicly funded colleges reported significant enrolment drops, while 19 colleges confirmed staff cuts or plans for reductions, amounting to more than 8,000 jobs lost as of June 2025. Some institutions had yet to submit their figures, suggesting the final number could rise to nearly 10,000.
Impact on students and program availability
The fallout has been felt in academic programmes as well. More than 600 college courses have either been suspended or cancelled altogether. While many of these programmes were popular with international students, domestic programs have also been affected. According to OPSEU, essential training streams such as nursing, child and youth care, environmental technologies, and arts programmes have also faced cuts.
This is particularly alarming for Indian and other international students who often enrol in such skill-specific programmes as a pathway to employment and eventual permanent residency in Canada. Ministry of External Affairs’ data shows Canada as the top destination Indian students are emigrating to for higher education and job opportunities, with more than 2.18 lakh students recorded till 2024. With fewer program options and uncertain faculty availability, future applicants may begin to reconsider Canada as a higher education destination.
In Confederation College in Thunder Bay Ontario, for example, the only culinary management program within a 1,000-kilometre radius, which also supported local food security, has been shut down, an earlier CBC report from April this year noted. The move is indicative of broader disruptions in regional educational services.
Concerns around transparency and long-term implications
Story continues below this ad
The CBC report also noted that the OPSEU accused both the Ontario government and college administrations of withholding the extent of the crisis from the public. Union leaders argued that only after sustained pressure was data about the layoffs and programmes closures disclosed. They also warned of long-term consequences, noting that Ontario’s colleges play a key role in job training and workforce development.
OPSEU claimed the province has underfunded the post-secondary education system for years and that the current crisis exposes the vulnerabilities in relying too heavily on international tuition fees to keep institutions afloat.
Government and employer response
In response, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities dismissed the union’s accusations as “baseless”. A spokesperson for Minister Nolan Quinn said Ontario had provided over $2 billion in new funding to post-secondary institutions in the past 14 months, in addition to the existing annual support of $5 billion. The ministry acknowledged, however, that “difficult decisions” are being made in light of federal policy changes on international students.
The College Employer Council (CEC), representing college administrations, also defended its actions, stating that OPSEU had been informed of the potential severity of the situation since January 2024. It confirmed that approximately 10,000 layoffs equate to a 17% reduction in staffing, a figure it said is still lower than the 45% fall in student enrolment.
Story continues below this ad
Colleges like Centennial, which reportedly suspended more than 100 programmes according to OPSEU, contested the number and attributed the changes to mounting financial pressures.
How does this affect international students?
For prospective students from India and elsewhere, the situation raises major concerns. The drop in faculty numbers and program closures could lead to reduced course availability, larger class sizes, and diminished learning support, factors that are key considerations when choosing a study destination abroad.
