Maple Leaf Foods Layoffs: Severance Pay and Employee Rights

Maple Leaf Foods disclosed further restructuring costs on November 4, 2026, including $6.1 million in severance and other employee-related costs tied to the reorganization of administrative functions. The company has also announced plant closures and operational changes as part of its broader restructuring strategy.

Maple Leaf Foods, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, operates food production facilities across Canada and the United States. Its recent changes follow the closure of its Brantford, Ontario, poultry plant and the separation of its pork business into Canada Packers.

If you’ve lost your job at Maple Leaf Foods in Ontario, Alberta or BC, your severance could reach 24 months’ pay. Before signing a package, have our team review what you’re owed.

Latest Maple Leaf Foods Layoffs and Restructuring

November 2026: Administrative restructuring

In its November 4, 2026 financial report, Maple Leaf Foods disclosed $13.6 million in restructuring costs for the third quarter.

Of that amount, $6.1 million related to severance and other employee costs associated with administrative restructuring. The remaining $7.5 million related to its U.S. plant closures.

The company did not specify how many Canadian employees were affected by the administrative changes or identify their locations.

September 2026: Two U.S. plants to close

On September 22, 2026, Maple Leaf Foods announced plans to close its plant-protein operations in Seattle, Washington, and Turners Falls, Massachusetts.

Production will move to Indianapolis, Indiana, with the transition expected to finish by the fourth quarter of 2027. These closures affect U.S. facilities, not Canadian plants.

2024–2025: Brantford, Ontario plant closure

On May 22, 2024, Maple Leaf Foods announced the closure of its century-old poultry processing plant in Brantford, Ontario, with operations scheduled to wind down through early 2025.

Approximately 156 employees were affected, according to CHCH News. The company said production would move to other facilities and that it would consider internal employment opportunities for affected workers.

Severance Pay for Maple Leaf Foods Employees

If you’re a non-unionized Maple Leaf Foods employee who has been laid off or terminated without cause, you could be owed substantially more than the government’s minimum termination pay.

Severance can reach 24 months’ pay, depending on your:

• Age and length of service
• Position and responsibilities
• Availability of similar employment
• Employment contract and compensation

Your package may also need to account for bonuses, benefits, pension contributions and other compensation.

Provincial employment laws set minimum termination and severance requirements. Those minimums are often much lower than your full common-law compensation. Learn more about severance pay in Canada.

What to Do If Maple Leaf Foods Lays You Off

1. Don’t sign immediately. A severance agreement could prevent you from pursuing additional compensation.
2. Keep your documents. Save your employment contract, termination letter, severance offer and recent pay records.
3. Check your severance. Use the free Severance Pay Calculator to estimate what you could receive.
4. Have your offer reviewed. Our employment lawyers can assess your package and deal directly with your employer.

Maple Leaf Foods Layoffs: Frequently Asked Questions

Does a plant closure affect my severance?

Closing a plant doesn’t eliminate an employer’s severance obligations. Special notice rules can also apply to qualifying large-scale terminations. However, each employee’s full severance must still be assessed individually.

What if Maple Leaf Foods offers me a job at another facility?

An offer to transfer doesn’t automatically eliminate your severance rights. The new location, pay, duties and other conditions matter. A significant change could raise a termination or constructive dismissal issue. Get advice before resigning or rejecting an offer.

Are Canada Packers employees affected by Maple Leaf Foods’ restructuring?

Canada Packers became a separate publicly traded company on October 1, 2025, following the spin-off of Maple Leaf Foods’ pork operations. Employees of that business can read our separate guide to Canada Packers severance pay.

How long do I have to claim severance?

Civil wrongful dismissal claims in Ontario, Alberta and BC typically have a two-year limitation period. Other claims can have shorter deadlines. Your employer’s deadline to accept an offer does not erase your legal rights, although the offer itself may expire. Get advice promptly.

What if I’m a unionized Maple Leaf Foods employee?

Unionized employees must pursue termination and severance disputes through their union and collective agreement. Our employment law practice assists non-unionized employees in Ontario, Alberta and BC.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the rights of non-unionized employees. It does not suggest wrongdoing by Maple Leaf Foods or imply any relationship between the company and Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.