‘Tough choices’: Conestoga College cuts staff, axes faculty contracts amid enrolment collapse

What’s going on at Conestoga College?

Conestoga College is undergoing a significant internal shakeup — cutting administrative staff, ending contracts for over 140 teaching faculty, and beginning the layoff process for full-time support staff — according to reporting by the Waterloo Record.

Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has been contacted by multiple affected non-unionized workers at the Kitchener-based college.

The staff reductions come as Conestoga grapples with major financial challenges, fueled by a dramatic drop in international student enrolment. The college cites federal immigration policy changes and a growing perception that Canada is less welcoming to international learners.

In an internal message, Conestoga President John Tibbits confirmed the cuts and stated:

The layoffs were disclosed the same day it was revealed Tibbits received a 29% salary increase in 2024, rising to $636,102 — a point that has sparked anger among employee groups.

SEE ALSO
• Georgian College cuts 45 staff due to ‘systemic underfunding’
• Seneca trims workforce in March, long-service staff affected
• Mohawk College slashes dozens of jobs, second cut of 2025
• Tariffs in Canada: News, Layoffs, and Employee Rights

Official statements and context

OPSEU Local 238: President Vikki Poirier confirmed the union – which represents support staff at Conestoga – confirmed the union received a layoff notice on Friday, March 28.

• The union is participating in an Employment Stability Committee to explore options to reduce job losses among the college’s 840 support staff.

Faculty and Partial Load Instructors: They are also feeling the impact. Leopold Koff, the president of the faculty union, said 144 partial load instructors are currently without contracts, and full-time faculty are being assigned additional teaching hours to offset the shortfall.

• Bob Delaney, a long-time Conestoga instructor and the first partial load faculty member on the provincial bargaining team, may now lose his union seat due to not being rehired.
• “This is people’s livelihoods… I’m getting emails every day from people who don’t know how they’re going to pay their rent,” said Delaney.

Campus Impact and Program Shifts: Conestoga’s staffing changes follow a larger trend across Ontario’s colleges, many of which are facing financial pressures from lower-than-expected international student revenues.

• In his message to staff, Tibbits said: “Institutions have responded by shuttering programs, making significant reductions in staff and closing campuses. Conestoga has also been impacted by these reductions.”

Next steps for staff at Conestoga College

If you’re a non-unionized employee who was fired or let go from Conestoga College, understanding your legal rights is crucial.

Non-unionized employees in Canada are entitled to full severance pay — The amount you’re owed depends on your age, position, length of service, and ability to find similar work.

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru delves into severance pay on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Compensation: Severance packages, which can be as much as 24 months’ pay, may include salary, bonuses, commissions, and other forms of compensation. Use our firm’s free Severance Pay Calculator to better understand your entitlements.
• Deadlines: You generally have up to two years from the date of your termination to review and negotiate severance offers.
• Action steps: Consult an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP to ensure your severance package is fair and aligns with Canadian employment laws.

Major employers slashing staff

The planned workforce reduction at Conestoga College comes amid a flurry of job cuts at other post-secondary institutions in 2025.

Other colleges and universities, including University of Windsor, Centennial, George Brown, Georgian, Mohawk, Fanshawe, Sheridan, Seneca, Langara, and Kwantlen Polytechnic have also pulled out the axe.

SEE ALSO
• Canada’s immigration department slashing workforce by 25%
• Where are layoffs happening in Canada?

Lost your job? Contact us

If you’re fired or let go from Conestoga College for any reason, the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP can help.

Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia have helped tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals resolve their workplace issues.

Call us today at 1-855-821-5900 or request a consultation online.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and SHOULD NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.