Layoffs in Canada (2024)

January

• Xerox: The company, which specializes in document management solutions and services, is cutting 15 per cent of its workforce as it restructures its business.
• Unity: The video game software provider is eliminating approximately 25 per cent of its workforce, or 1,800 jobs, as part of a company-wide restructuring.
• Twitch: The Amazon-owned livestreaming platform is reducing its headcount by “just over 500 jobs” in an effort to “rightsize” the business.
• Amazon: The e-commerce giant is reportedly cutting “several hundred roles” in its Prime Video and MGM Studios division.
• Google: The tech giant is eliminating hundreds of roles across its Assistant, hardware, and engineering teams in an effort to cut costs.
• Dehumidified Air Solutions: The indoor pool HVAC company has laid off more than 80 employees as it shifts its Ottawa operations to Montreal.
• Discord: The voice, video and text app is eliminating 17 per cent of its workforce, or 170 jobs, to “bring more agility to our organization.”
• Indigo: The Canadian retailer has laid off an undisclosed number of employees as part of its strategic plan.
• BenchSci: The Toronto-based AI and biomedical startup has eliminated 17 per cent of its workforce, or 70 jobs, as it furthers its investment into generative AI.
• BlackRock: The asset manager is cutting three per cent of its workforce, or 600 jobs, as it navigates rapid changes in asset management.
• Citigroup: The bank plans to eliminate 10 per cent of its workforce, or 20,000 jobs, over the “medium-term.” Reports claim this could be a three- to five-year period.
• Universal Music Group: The world’s largest record label confirmed that it’s cutting jobs in the first quarter — potentially affecting hundreds of employees.
• Instagram: The Meta-owned social media platform has removed a layer of management — eliminating 60 technical program manager positions.
• Newell Brands: The producer of Sharpie and Rubbermaid products is cutting severn per cent of its office workforce as part of an “organizational realignment.”
• Google: The tech giant is reducing the size of its ad sales team by “a few hundred roles globally.”
• YouTube: The Google-owned video-sharing platform is eliminating 100 positions as it restructures its business.
• Amazon: The e-commerce giant is cutting less than five per cent of its “Buy with Prime” unit in a bid to cut costs.
• The Source: The Canadian electronic chain owned by Bell is shutting over 100 stores in 2024, and rebranding 165 as Best Buy Express stores.
• Wayfair: The online furniture retailer is slashing 1,650 jobs globally, including 50 in Ontario.
• Brex: The expense management startup is eliminating approximately 20 per cent of its workforce, or 282 jobs, as it restructures its business.
• eBay: The e-commerce company is slashing nine per cent of its full-time workforce, or 1,000 jobs, in an effort to make the company “more nimble.”
• Rona: The home improvement retailer is closing distribution centres in Quebec and Alberta — affecting more than 300 jobs.
• Microsoft: The tech giant is laying off approximately nine per cent of its gaming division — affecting 1,900 Activision Blizzard, Xbox, and ZeniMax employees.
• Levi Strauss: The denim giant is planning to eliminate 10 to 15 per cent of its corporate workforce as part of a multi-year global productivity initiative.
• Flexport: The logistics provider is reportedly planning to eliminate nearly 20 per cent of its workforce “in the coming weeks.”
• SAP: The software firm is planning to restructure approximately 8,000 jobs as part of a “transformation program.” Some employees are expected to be offered voluntary severance packages.
• Salesforce: Salesforce is terminating 700 employees and cutting benefits and travel expenses, though it still aims to hire 1,000 additional staff.
• UPS: The package giant is planning to eliminate approximately 12,000 jobs in an effort to realign its resources in 2024.
• Enbridge: Reports suggest that Enbridge is laying off 650 employees across the company.
• PayPal: The payments firm is cutting approximately nine per cent of its workforce in an effort to “right-size” the business.
• Dell Canada: The tech giant is allegedly laying off a significant number of employees in sales and marketing roles, according to reports.
• Harmon: Samfiru Tumarkin LLP is investigating reports that the construction company has laid off approximately 50 employees.

February

• Deutsche Bank: The investment bank plans to eliminate approximately 3,500 jobs in an effort to improve operational efficiency.
• Okta: The identity management company is laying off approximately seven per cent of its workforce, or 400 employees, claiming that costs are “still too high.”
• Rose Integration: The Ottawa-area precision-machining manufacturer and supplier is closing down, impacting around 50 jobs.
• Staples Canada: The retailer is laying off an undetermined number of head office staff.
• Zoom: The video conferencing platform said it’s ‘rescoping roles’ — resulting in a workforce reduction of 150 jobs.
• Top Hat: The Toronto-based online education firm is laying off 35 employees to help it become a “self-sustaining business.”
• Snap: The Snapchat maker is eliminating approximately 10 per cent of its workforce, or 500 jobs, to “reduce hierarchy and promote in-person collaboration.”
• Estee Lauder: The cosmetics company plans to reduce its total headcount by at least three per cent as part of a restructuring program.
• DocuSign: The online signature provider is cutting approximately six per cent of its workforce, or 440 jobs, as part of a restructuring plan.
• Amazon: The e-commerce giant has reportedly eliminated hundreds of jobs across its Pharmacy and One Medical divisions.
• MEC: Samfiru Tumarkin LLP is investigating reports that Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) is laying off an undisclosed number of workers as it restructures.
• Grammarly: The cloud-based writing assistant is eliminating approximately 230 jobs as part of a “business restructuring.”
• CPA Canada: The organization is laying off approximately 20 per cent of its workforce as CPA bodies in Ontario and Quebec prepare to sever ties in December.
• BlackBerry: The tech giant announced that it has cut approximately 200 jobs, with plans to reduce its headcount further.
• Boundless Learning: The educational technology company began laying off approximately 15% of its staff as early as Feb. 6.
• Instacart: The grocery-delivery giant is eliminating approximately seven per cent of its workforce, or 250 jobs, as it restructures its business.
• Mozilla: The software company is cutting approximately 60 jobs as it scales back investment in several products, including its VPN, Relay, and Online Footprint Scrubber.
• Cisco: The tech giant is laying off approximately five per cent of its workforce — affecting more than 4,000 jobs.
• Cascades Inc: The packaging company is laying off 310 employees and closing its Trenton and Belleville plants in Ontario for various reasons.
• Catalent: The drug maker is cutting its staff by approximately 300 employees as part of its restructuring plans.
• Nike: The sportswear giant is eliminating more than 1,500 jobs, or approximately two per cent of its workforce, as it works to “reignite” growth.
• Walmart Canada: The retail giant is reportedly restructuring, a move that impacts multiple roles including its home delivery drivers.
• BuzzFeed: The digital media company is eliminating approximately 16 per cent of its workforce and selling Complex to NTWRK for US$108.6 million.
• Vice Media: The digital media company is laying off “several hundred” employees and has reportedly stopped publishing content on Vice.com.
• Expedia: The travel technology company is laying off approximately 1,500 employees, according to a memo to staff from its CEO.
• Sony: The tech giant is eliminating approximately eight per cent of its total workforce, or 900 jobs, and closing its PlayStation London studio.
• Rivian: The EV manufacturer is reducing its salaried workforce by 10 per cent and revealed that vehicle production for the year won’t meet industry expectations.
• Electronic Arts: The video game giant is laying off approximately five per cent of its workforce and reducing office space as it restructures its business.

March

• TC Energy: The energy giant has eliminated an unspecified number of jobs — primarily affecting staff in Calgary and Houston.
• Fidelity International: The fund management giant plans to lay off approximately nine per cent of its global workforce, or 1,000 employees, in an effort to reduce costs.
• Dorel: The Montreal-based manufacturer has eliminated approximately five per cent of its home furniture division as part of a restructuring plan.
• IBM: The tech giant is reportedly laying off staff in its marketing and communications division.
• Shell: The energy producer is planning to eliminate at least 20 per cent of its deals division as it restructures its business units.
• Unilever: The consumer goods giant is cutting approximately 7,500 jobs and spinning off its ice cream business.
• Barclays: The financial services company is reportedly planning to eliminate hundreds of roles in its investment banking division.
• Mold-Masters: The plastic processing equipment manufacturer has laid off an unspecified number of employees dues to ‘structural changes.’
• MarineLand: Online reports claimed that MarineLand was closing its doors for good after 63 years, however the park denies the rumours.
• Dell: Dell Technologies has announced a significant reduction in its workforce, cutting as many as 6,000 employees.
• Canada Goose: The winter gear manufacturer is laying off 800 employees following a warm winter and lower consumer demand.
• Li-Cycle: The Toronto-based battery recycler is eliminating approximately 17 per cent of its workforce as part of an organizational restructuring.
• Telus: Telus is reportedly restructuring and laying off an unspecified number of Canadian employees.

April

• FedEx: The delivery giant is eliminating a “small percentage” of staff in an effort to “streamline and realign functions.”
• Simmons Foods: The pet food producer is closing its Streetsville, Mississauga plant in November and laying off hundreds of employees.
• Lightspeed: The Montreal-based tech company is cutting approximately 10 per cent of its workforce, or 280 jobs, as part of a company-wide restructuring.
• Intel: The tech giant has reportedly eliminated an unspecified number of positions in its sales and marketing division.
• Amazon Web Services: The cloud computing arm of Amazon is slashing hundreds of jobs across a variety of teams, including sales, marketing, physical stores technology, and global services.
• Ubisoft: The video game giant has cut 45 jobs in its “Global Publishing central” and “APAC structures” to enhance its “collective efficiency.”
• Relic Entertainment: The Vancouver-based video game developer has laid off approximately 41 employees after splitting from SEGA.
• Best Buy: The consumer electronics giant is reportedly reducing the size of its in-house tech support and repair team: Geek Squad.
• EXL Service: The digital services provider is cutting 800 jobs as part of a move towards generative AI.
• Netflix: The streaming giant is eliminating roles in its film division as part of a “major restructure.”
• McKinsey & Company: The consulting giant is reportedly laying off approximately 360 workers as it grapples with a slowdown in demand.
• Tesla: The automaker is eliminating more than 10 per cent of its global workforce as it navigates a slowdown in sales and an ongoing price war for electric vehicles.
• SAP Canada: Multiple online reports point to over 100 employees being laid off in Vancouver and Montreal.
• Take-Two Interactive: The video game developer is cutting approximately five per cent of its workforce, or 600 jobs, as part of a cost-reduction plan.
• Rivian: The automaker has eliminated approximately one per cent of its workforce as EV demand continues to cool.
• Google: The tech giant is reportedly reducing the size of various teams, including real estate and finance.
• Gameloft: Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has received reports that the video game publisher is reducing the size of its Canadian workforce.
• Whirlpool Canada: The company is laying off approximately 1,000 employees due to sluggish home sales in North America.
• Google: The tech giant has reportedly trimmed several teams, including Dart, Flutter, and Python, ahead of its annual I/O developer conference.
• Tesla: The automaker is reportedly planning to lay off senior executives and the majority of its Supercharging team.

May

• Hudson’s Bay: The retail giant is eliminating less than one per cent of its workforce as part of a “realignment” of its organizational structure.
• Kinaxis: Supply chain management company Kinaxis is reportedly laying off 6% of its staff due to restructuring.
• Kenvue: The Tylenol-maker is laying off 4% of its workforce after beating quarterly profit estimates.
• Tesla: The automaker is reportedly trimming various segments of the company, including software, services, and engineering.
• Xbox: The popular gaming brand owned by Microsoft is reportedly closing several studios — including Alpha Dog Games in Canada.
• Walmart: The retail giant is reportedly cutting hundreds of corporate jobs and closing its tech hub in Toronto.
• Indeed: The job site is eliminating approximately eight per cent of its workforce, or 1,000 positions, in an effort to “simplify” its organization.
• Bayer: In its Q1 earnings call, Bayer announced that 1,500 staff were laid off as part of a major global overhaul.
• Under Armour: The sportswear giant is scaling back its staffing levels as it grapples with a slowdown in sales.
• Laurentian Bank: The Canadian lender is trimming its headcount and exiting the equity research business.
• Phoenix Labs: The Canadian video game developer has reportedly eliminated dozens of jobs as part of a major restructuring.
• Lucid Motors: The automaker is slashing approximately six per cent of its workforce, or 400 jobs, as it restructures its business.
• Home Hardware: The home improvement retailer eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs in response to the “current economic landscape.”
• Fisker: The automaker is reportedly cutting jobs in Canada and the U.S. as part of a major restructuring.
• Nike: The sportswear giant has reportedly trimmed the Department of Nike Archives (DNA) as it restructures its business.
• Google: The tech giant reportedly reduced the size of several teams in its Cloud unit to cap off May.
• Takeda: The pharmaceutical giant is implementing significant layoffs in the U.S. as part of its $900 million restructuring plan.

June

• Microsoft: The tech giant is reportedly reducing the size of its Azure cloud and mixed reality units.
• MaRS: The Toronto-based agency has reportedly eliminated approximately 20 jobs as it “resets” its business model.
• Stifel Financial: A company spokesperson said the undisclosed job cuts have been brought on by current market conditions and a need to cut costs.
• WillScot of Canada: Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has learned that WillScot of Canada has reportedly terminated at least 10% of its workforce across Canada and the U.S.
• Ineos Styrolution: The plastics company is permanently shutting down its Sarnia plant by June 2026 after regulatory scrutiny over benzene emissions.
• Vancity: Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has learned that credit union Vancity has reportedly terminated numerous employees as part of restructuring.
• Sumo Group: The layoffs affect staff across various Canada and Poland, with the Timbre Games closure putting 100 employees out of work.
• Onsemi: The Arizona-based company announced it will cut its global workforce by approximately 1,000 employees.
• Rivian: The electric vehicle maker has initiated another round of layoffs, the third time within the past year due to a cooling demand for EVs.
• Memory Express: Reports claim that Memory Express is reportedly closing all Ontario locations and laying off a significant number of employees.
• UWindsor: The university is cutting 10 jobs amid a $5.6 million budget shortfall.
• STEMCELL Technologies: The Canadian biotech company is reportedly laying off a number of employees across the country.
• Ontario Science Centre: Over 50 food service workers will be laid off in the near future as a result of the closure of the iconic Toronto attraction.
• Gameloft: The game developer has laid off 49 employees at its Toronto studio as part of a “reduction in workforce” due to lower production demands.
• Ubisoft: The game developer is terminating 33 employees at its Toronto studio, as the video game maker continues to experience the industry-wide wave of layoffs.
• OpenText: The company is eliminating 1,200 jobs as part of a “Business Optimization Plan,” or ‘OpenText 3.0.”
• Microsoft: The massive computer company is cutting product and program management roles as it aims to maintain profit margins.
• Dyson: The tech company is cutting 1,000 employees in the UK as part of a broader global reduction due to ‘fierce competition.’
• UiPath: The company announced that it is laying off 10% of its workforce following a reshuffling of its executives.
• Intuit: The tax prep company is closing its Edmonton office and laying off 1,800 employees.
• Cargill: The agriculture giant is cutting 200 tech jobs globally as it pursues ‘new digital technology.’

July

• UKG: The HR software company is laying off 14% of its workforce, or 2,200 of its 15,000 global employees, to focus on “critical areas of growth.”
• SNDL: The Calgary-based cannabis retailer is cutting 106 full-time positions, reflecting ongoing challenges in Alberta’s legal cannabis sector.
• Amdocs: The software giant Amdocs is laying off 1,500-3,000 employees globally, affecting up to 10% of staff, despite the company’s strong performance.
• Cohere: The tech company has fired 20 employees shortly after a successful $500M funding round.
• Saks Global: The retailer is merging Saks.com, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Saks Off 5th under one roof, resulting in 100 layoffs and new appointments.
• John Deere: Media outlets report that numerous John Deere employees took part in termination meetings Wednesday morning as part of a global layoff at the farm equipment manufacturer.

January

• Salesforce: The enterprise software maker announced that it will cut approximately 10 per cent of its workforce and close some offices. In an email to staff on Jan. 4, the company said it “hired too many people” as it grapples with challenging economic conditions. Salesforce didn’t disclose how many Canadian employees are affected by the latest reduction.
• Amazon: The e-commerce giant announced that it’s trimming its headcount further after laying off thousands of workers in November. The company is set to eliminate more than 18,000 jobs as it grapples with challenging economic conditions. Amazon said the cuts will primarily affect its Amazon Stores as well as its People, Experience, and Technology (PXT) organizations.
• Cloud Software Group: The Citrix-TIBCO parent company announced that it’s laying off roughly 15 per cent of its workforce after conducting a “rigorous planning process.” Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has been contacted by several Canadian employees who claim that they were let go. Our employment lawyers are following up with affected staff to better understand the situation.
• Thinkific: The tech company is cutting 76 jobs as it focuses on returning to profitability by the end of the year. Most of Thinkific’s affected staff left on Jan. 15. Basic system access was available to all departing workers until the end of the day on Jan. 13.
• Microsoft: The tech giant is cutting 10,000 jobs, or less than five per cent of its total workforce, in a bid to reduce costs. News outlets, including The Verge, claim layoffs at Microsoft should be completed by March. It remains unclear how many Canadian employees are affected by the latest reduction.
• Benevity: The Canadian tech firm is cutting 137 jobs, or 14 per cent of its workforce, as it grapples with a slowdown in demand. In a note to employees on Jan. 18, CEO Kelly Schmitt said the company is “overbuilt for current market conditions.” Benevity added that it will provide affected staff with “generous severance” and support them in a variety of ways during the transition.
• Lightspeed: The Canadian e-commerce company is eliminating 300 jobs, or 10 per cent of its “headcount-related operating expenditures”, as it streamlines its operations. Lightspeed said in a news release that half of the cuts are “coming from management layers.”
• Clutch: The online vehicle retailer is cutting 148 employees, or approximately 65 per cent of its workforce, as it refocuses its business in Ontario and the Maritimes. Clutch said challenging market conditions are affecting the closure of a $95 million Series C funding round.
• Hootsuite: The Canadian social media company is eliminating 70 jobs, or seven per cent of its workforce, in an effort to position the business for the long term. The layoffs come as Hootsuite announced that it has chosen Irina Novoselsky, who recently headed Career Builder Inc., to succeed Tom Keiser as the company’s CEO.
• Clearco: The e-commerce investing company is laying off approximately 25 per cent of its workforce as it continues to monitor market conditions. Co-founder and Dragon’s Den star Michele Romanow confirmed that she is stepping down as CEO. Andrew Curtis has been chosen to succeed Romanow as she becomes co-executive chairman.
• Alphabet: The parent company of Google and YouTube is eliminating approximately 12,000 jobs, or six per cent of its workforce, as the tech giant grapples with a slowdown in growth. A Google Canada spokesperson said impacted staff in the country have been notified, but refused to comment on the exact number of workers affected by the reduction.
• Hudson’s Bay: The retail giant is cutting approximately 250 jobs, or two per cent of its total workforce, in an effort to increase efficiencies within its operations. The reduction will largely affect Canadians in corporate roles as well as the company’s online and brick-and-mortar operations.
• Best Buy: The consumer electronics retailer is cutting approximately 700 jobs, or less than one per cent of its workforce, as the company grapples with slowing sales following a spike in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has been contacted by several employees who claim that they have been laid off by Best Buy Canada.
• Adidas: The athletic wear giant is laying off as much as 50% of its corporate staff in Canada as it merges operations with its U.S. office.
• Torstar: The Canadian media giant confirmed to The Globe and Mail that it’s outsourcing more of its printing operations to Transcontinental Inc. and selling its remaining Toronto facility. Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has been contacted by several employees at Metroland Media Group, one of Torstar’s subsidiaries, who claim that they have been laid off.

February

• VerticalScope: The Canadian tech company is eliminating approximately 60 jobs, or 22 per cent of its total workforce. VerticalScope said the reduction will ensure that the business is in the best position to “navigate the current economic environment.” It remains unclear how many Canadian employees are affected by the latest round of cuts.
• Dell Technologies: The tech giant is cutting approximately 6,650 jobs, or five per cent of its global workforce, as the company continues to navigate a challenging global economic environment. It remains unclear how many Canadian employees are affected by the reduction.
• VinFast: The electric vehicle maker is reportedly cutting around 80 jobs in Canada and the U.S. as the company restructures its operations in North America. While it remains unclear how many Canadian employees are affected by the latest reduction, one worker in Kitchener, Ontario confirmed on LinkedIn that they have been let go by VinFast.
• Zoom: The video conferencing company plans to cut around 1,300 employees, or 15% of its workforce, as per an article by CEO Eric Yuan posted to the company’s website. Yuan’s note suggests that layoffs will impact workers in Canada.
• Canopy Growth: CEO David Klein announced another round of layoffs that will affect 800 employees and result in the closure and consolidation of numerous facilities in Canada.

March

• Meta: The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp announced that it plans to eliminate approximately 10,000 jobs and close around 5,000 additional open roles. The fresh round of job cuts comes after CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed that 2023 was going to be Meta’s “Year of Efficiency.” It remains unclear how many Canadian employees are affected by the latest round of cuts.
• Amazon: The e-commerce giant confirmed that it’s laying off around 9,000 employees as it continues to streamline its operations. Amazon said the cuts will mostly affect its AWS, PXT, Advertising, and Twitch teams. The company is aiming to finalize the impacted positions before the end of April.
• Accenture: The consulting giant plans to eliminate around 19,000 jobs, or 2.5 per cent of its workforce, over the next 18 months in a bid to reduce costs. Accenture didn’t disclose how many Canadian workers are affected by the latest round of cuts.
• Electronic Arts: The video game giant is cutting approximately 800 jobs, or six per cent of its workforce, as part of a company-wide restructuring. It remains unclear how many Canadian employees are affected by the latest round of cuts. EA expects the actions associated with its restructuring plan to be “substantially complete” by the end of September.
• McDonald’s: The fast food giant has temporarily closed its U.S. offices and asked corporate employees to work remotely in advance of a round of layoffs that may impact workers internationally. A memo to staff reportedly said the cuts will help McDonald’s enhance its speed, efficiency, and innovation.

April

• Kyndryl: The IBM spinoff providing consulting and tech services laid off 2,000 employees globally to streamline operations.
• F5: The global tech company is cutting staff by 9% and reducing office spending, travel expenses and executive bonus.
• Meta: Roughly a month after announcing plans to cut approximately 10,000 jobs, the tech giant confirmed that layoffs have begun. Employees in various technical roles shared on social media that they had been let go. Meta didn’t disclose how many Canadian employees are affected by the latest round of cuts.
• CDW: Numerous CDW employees have shared news of their termination following the company’s first fiscal quarter results.
• Lyft: The ride-sharing company’s new CEO plans to lay off a significant number of employees as it struggles to turn a profit.
• Gap: The apparel retailer is reportedly laying off hundreds of employees just months after eliminating approximately 500 corporate jobs in September.
• 3M: The manufacturing giant is eliminating around 6,000 jobs as demand for manufactured goods continues to cool. It remains unclear how many Canadian employees could be affected by the latest round of cuts.
• Red Hat: The IBM subsidiary is firing under 1,000 employees to ‘rebalance’ itself.
• Dropbox: The tech company is laying off 500 employees, or approximately 16 per cent of its global workforce, due to slow growth and the onset of artificial intelligence (AI).
• Jenny Craig: The weight loss is closing physical locations and laying off employees as it shifts to e-commerce and faces competition from pharmaceuticals.

May

• Morgan Stanley: The investment bank is reportedly planning to slash 3,000 jobs by the end of June due to “slow dealmaking and a tough economic environment.”
• Shopify: The Canadian e-commerce giant is eliminating 20% of its global workforce and selling Shopify Logistics to Flexport.
• Unity: The video game software developer is eliminating 600 jobs, or approximately eight per cent of its workforce, in order to position itself for “long-term and profitable growth.”
• Intel: The chip maker is cutting an unknown number of jobs after the company reported the largest ever quarterly loss.
• LinkedIn: The Microsoft-owned social media platform announced that it’s laying off 716 employees and closing InCareer — its local jobs app in China.
• Hudson’s Bay: The retail giant is eliminating 250 corporate jobs as it takes additional steps to “flatten the organization and streamline operations.”
• Akamai Technologies: The internet services company is reportedly laying off approximately 300 employees, or three per cent of its global workforce, as it prioritizes investments in areas “with the greatest potential for future growth.”
• Relic Entertainment: The Vancouver-based video game studio is eliminating 121 jobs to “ensure maximum focus is placed on our core franchises.”
• Olymel: The food producer is eliminating 80 jobs as it closes five pig farms in Alberta and one production facility in Saskatchewan.
• JPMorgan: The U.S. bank is reportedly cutting approximately 500 jobs — mostly affecting technology and operations roles.

June

• Suncor Energy: The oilsands giant is expected to eliminate approximately 1,500 jobs as part of a plan to reduce costs by $400-million by the end of the year.
• ZipRecruiter: The job site is eliminating 20 per cent of its workforce as it focuses on streamlining the organization and optimizing its cost structure.
• Spotify: The music streaming platform is cutting approximately 200 jobs, or two per cent of its workforce, as it enters the “next phase” of its podcasting strategy.
• Grab Holdings: The ride-hailing and food delivery app operator is laying off more than 1,000 employees in a bid to manage costs and reorganize the company in a competitive landscape.
• Bank of Montreal:The bank is reportedly reducing its capital markets division by four per cent, or more than 100 employees, as it grapples with slower trading and investment banking activity.

July

• Microsoft: The tech giant is cutting 276 jobs in its home state of Washington. However, several Canadian workers reached out to Samfiru Tumarkin LLP — claiming that they were also let go.
• Haleon: The consumer healthcare company is reportedly planning to eliminate hundreds of jobs in the U.K. and potentially thousands of roles worldwide.
• Amazon: The e-commerce giant has reportedly eliminated approximately 80 jobs in its pharmacy division. It remains unclear if any Canadian employees were affected.
• Biogen: The biotech company is cutting approximately 1,000 jobs, or 11 per cent of its workforce, to save costs as it launches a new Alzheimer’s drug.
• CD Projekt Red: The video game developer is eliminating approximately 100 jobs, or nine per cent of its total workforce, claiming that it’s “overstaffed.”

August

• Canaccord Genuity: The firm is cutting 75 jobs from its Canadian capital markets division due to a prolonged downturn in mergers and financings.
• Telus: The Canadian telecom giant announced that it’s eliminating approximately 6,000 jobs in an effort to reduce costs and remain competitive.
• Discord: The communications app is cutting approximately 40 jobs, or four per cent of its total workforce, as it reorganizes some of its business units.
• Dell: The tech giant is eliminating an undisclosed number of sales roles as it adopts a new partner-driven go-to market model.
• Paper Education: The online tutor service is reducing its corporate workforce by 20 per cent in a bid to reduce costs.
• Rapid7: The cybersecurity giant is eliminating approximately 18 per cent of its workforce as the company restructures its business.
• SecureWorks: The cybersecurity company is reducing its workforce by approximately 15 per cent in order to better align with its current “strategy and growth opportunities.”
• Ross Video: The Ottawa-based supplier of live production solutions is eliminating nine per cent of its workforce after hiring aggressively to meet anticipated demand.
• BioWare: The Canadian video game developer is eliminating approximately 50 jobs as it restructures its business.

September

• Domtar: The manufacturer announced that it’s “indefinitely” shuttering its pulp and paper mill in Espanola, Ontario — affecting approximately 450 employees.
• Roku: The streaming software company is eliminating approximately 10 per cent of its workforce in a bid to “bring down its year-over-year operating expense growth rate.”
• Expedia Group: The travel giant is reportedly eliminating an undisclosed number of tech jobs as the company restructures its business.
• Volvo: The automaker is cutting more than 10 per cent of its white-collar workforce in Canada and the U.S. as the company restructures its business.
• Wells Fargo: The bank said that it will continue to trim its workforce, even after slashing its workforce by 40,000 people since 2020.
• Barclays: The bank is laying off 450 employees in the U.K., with potential for an additional 5% cut to its global workforce.
• Citigroup: The bank says that it will eliminate multiple management positions and cut jobs in the near future.
• Google: Hundreds of recruiters are being fired by Google as hiring at the tech giant slows.
• Metroland: The media group owned by Nordstar is declaring bankruptcy, laying off 605 employees.
• Industrial Alliance: iA Financial is laying off staff and making changes to its capital markets division.
• Epic Games: The video game developer is laying off approximately 16 per cent of its workforce as it restructures the business.
• RBC: Canada’s biggest bank is reportedly eliminating a number of positions within its capital markets division.

October

• Hopper: The Montreal-based online travel services provider is eliminating 30 per cent of its full-time staff, or 250 jobs, in an effort to reach profitability.
• Twitch: The Amazon-owned livestreaming platform is reportedly eliminating an undisclosed number of positions just weeks before TwitchCon kicks off in Las Vegas.
• Amazon: The e-commerce giant is reportedly reducing the size of its communications division by five per cent.
• Flexport: The San Francisco-based logistics provider is laying off approximately 950 employees following a leadership change.
• Netflix: The streaming giant is reportedly planning to trim its animation unit as the company restructures the division.
• Pfizer: The pharmaceutical giant is planning to cut an undisclosed number of jobs as part of its new cost realignment program.
• LinkedIn: The Microsoft-owned social media platform is eliminating approximately 668 roles across its engineering, product, talent, and finance teams.
• Scotiabank: The Canadian bank is reducing its global workforce by approximately three per cent as it continues to look for ways to “streamline operational processes.”
• Desjardins: The financial services conglomerate is eliminating approximately 400 jobs. The layoffs will mostly affect workers in Quebec.
• Nokia: The Finnish telecom giant is planning to slash approximately 14,000 jobs as it resets its cost-base and streamlines its operating model.
• Canadian Western Bank: Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has learned that CWB laid off at least 150 employees on Oct. 25, 2023.
• PureFacts: Former employees have suggested to Samfiru Tumarkin LLP that PureFacts has laid off 30-40% of its workforce.
• National Bank: National Bank of Canada has laid off an undisclosed number of employees within its equity research and sales and trading divisions.
• Bungie: The Sony-owned video game developer has reportedly reduced its workforce by around eight per cent.

November

• Splunk: The San Francisco-based cybersecurity firm is reducing its global workforce by approximately seven per cent in an effort to remain “sustainable and cost effective.”
• Faire: The online wholesale marketplace is cutting 250 jobs as part of a company-wide restructuring.
• Panera: The operator of Panera Bread is eliminating approximately 17 per cent of its corporate workforce ahead of its planned initial public offering (IPO).
• Maersk: Maersk announced plans to reduce its workforce by more than 10,000 people due to subdued demand.
• Ubisoft: The video game developer has eliminated 124 jobs as it reorganizes its Canadian studios. 98 of the affected positions were based in Canada.
• PwC: The professional services firm is reportedly cutting hundreds of jobs in the U.K. and Australia. Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has been contacted by several Canadian employees who claim that they have also been let go.
• Informatica: The software company is eliminating approximately 545 jobs, or 10 per cent of its global workforce, and reducing its real estate footprint.
• Amazon: The e-commerce giant is reportedly laying off an undisclosed number of employees in its Music division.
• Canadian Tire: The retail giant is planning to reduce its number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees by three per cent “as a result of targeted headcount reductions in Q4.”
• Amazon: The e-commerce giant has eliminated approximately 180 jobs in its gaming division as part of a broader restructuring.
• Manulife: The insurer’s global wealth and asset management arm has reportedly eliminated 250 jobs.
• Citigroup: The bank has reportedly begun to scale back its staffing levels as it streamlines its business.
• Vidyard: The Kitchener-based video software company has reportedly eliminated approximately 20 per cent of its workforce as it grapples with slowing demand.
• Amazon: The e-commerce giant is cutting “several hundred roles” in its Alexa division as it focuses on generative AI.
• ByteDance: The parent company of TikTok is laying off an undisclosed number of staff as it restructures its Nuverse gaming brand.
• Broadcom: The semiconductor giant is eliminating an undisclosed number of jobs at VMware following its acquisition of the cloud computing company.
• Dataminr: The big data startup is eliminating approximately 20 per cent of its total workforce, or 150 jobs, as it restructures its business.
• AbCellera: The Vancouver-based biotech company is eliminating approximately 10 per cent of its workforce “to better focus its efforts towards the clinical development of new antibody medicines for patients.”
• Unity: The video game software provider is cutting 3.8 per cent of its total workforce and planning to close 14 of its offices.
• TD: The Canadian bank is cutting approximately three per cent of its workforce as part of a restructuring.
• RBC: The Canadian bank’s Q4 2023 earnings release revealed that it cut more than 500 jobs in its capital markets division.

December

• Spotify: The music streaming platform is eliminating approximately 17 per cent of its workforce, or 1,500 jobs, in an effort to “rightsize our costs.”
• CBC: The public broadcaster is cutting 600 jobs and some programming due to a $125 million budget gap.
• Twilio: The software provider is laying off approximately five per cent of its workforce, or 300 jobs, as it restructures certain parts of its business.
• Nike: Reports and social media posts claim that the sportswear giant quietly laid off an undisclosed number of employees over the past several weeks.
• Hasbro: The toy maker is eliminating nearly 20 per cent of its workforce, or 1,100 jobs, as it grapples with an ongoing slump in toy sales.
• Etsy: The e-commerce giant is eliminating approximately 225 jobs, or 11 per cent of its workforce, as it restructures its business.
• Cruise: The self-driving arm of General Motors is cutting 24 per cent of its workforce, or approximately 900 jobs, as it restructures its business.
• Bolt: The one-click checkout company slashed 29 per cent of its workforce in an effort to get to “an operating model optimized for sustainable growth and efficiency.”
• Nike: Employees at the sportswear giant are bracing for job cuts after the company announced a major restructuring charge in its latest earnings report.
• Google: A report claims that the tech giant’s AI tools have made many jobs in its ad sales unit redundant, which could result in mass layoffs.
• PwC Canada: The firm is reportedly undergoing a restructuring that includes laying off over 100 employees from its consulting division.

Developments in 2022

The year 2022 began with a rise in COVID cases as a result of the highly contagious Omicron variant. The fifth wave of the pandemic was the last straw for many Canadian businesses that struggled to get back on their feet. This surge led to a drop in Canada’s employment levels: 200,000 jobs were lost in January alone.

Slowly, the job market across Canada began to open up as the nation began to recover from the Omicron surge. The country saw consecutive growth in the employment rate during February and March, which eventually steadied in April.

According to Statistics Canada, the nation’s unemployment rate hit a record-low of 5.1 per cent in May, the lowest rate since at least 1976.

Pandemic aside, many companies in Canada continue to face financial hardships, resulting in mass layoffs for their employees. These difficulties are being amplified by the rise in inflation and interest rates, the war in Ukraine, and the threat of a global recession. Layoffs in the tech industry began ramping up towards the end of the year.

If you are a non-unionized employee in Ontario, Alberta or B.C., and have questions about your employment rights and entitlements, don’t wait to find out the answers you need. Contact an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP today.

January

• Cineplex: The Canadian movie theatre chain announced they are laying off 5,000 part-time employees in Ontario. The company was forced to shut down theatre venues due to indoor capacity restrictions put in place by the Ontario government at the start of the year, to try and limit the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
• Proposify: Halifax based startup company for online proposal solutions lays off 25 per cent of its staff (amounting to 25 employees).

February

• Hudson’s Bay Company: The Canadian company announces closure of its historical Toronto location at Yonge and Bloor Streets. The iconic location opened in 1974, and is scheduled to close as of May 31, 2022.

March

• Aurora Cannabis: The company announces closure of two outdoor grow sites. The The first closure occured in Kamloops, B.C. and the second location in Edmonton, Alberta. In some cases, employees have been offered transitional roles within the company wherever possible.
• Thinkific: The Vancouver based company announces plans to lay off 100 employees after recording a net loss $26.4 million USD in 2021. The layoffs will impact one-fifth of their 499-person team.
  According to a letter posted to the Thinkific website, all terminated employees will receive a minimum 12 weeks’ pay.
• GoodLife Fitness: The chain confirmed they fired 480 fitness instructors from 189 clubs across Canada. The employees were terminated by email, and many had spent at least a decade working for the health club.

April

• Canopy Growth: The company reveals plans that they are laying off or firing 243 workers. It is part of “a new cost reduction strategy to make cannabis cultivation more affordable” and to “uncover supply chain efficiencies” that will save the company as much as $150 million. Canadian layoffs are largely happening in Ontario.
• Hexo Cannabis: The company is closing its Belleville facility and transitioning operations to other sites after facing financial losses. Hexo said approximately 230 workers will be affected by the closure. The cannabis company also commenced layoffs in 2021.
• Novartis: The pharmaceutical company confirms that thousands of layoffs are likely to happen on a global scale in the coming months due to large scale restructuring and the merging of its pharma and oncology businesses
• Legible: The Vancouver based tech firm announces plans to lay off over a third of its employees. This accounts for 23 members of its 60 person staff.

May

• Netflix: The digital streaming service announced it has laid off roughly 150 employees due to a significant 200,000 drop in subscribers and revenue. This accounts for approximately two per cent of Netflix’s workforce in North America. The layoffs were predominantly across the United States, and affected no Canadian employees at this time.
• Servus Credit Union: Alberta’s largest credit union announces in a video statement its plans to layoff employees, however, an exact number was not provided.
• Johnson Controls Inc: Reports of a plant closure in Ontario emerged. The official closure is scheduled to occur in 2024. Some employees have received a working notice of termination.
• Bolt: The Silicon Valley start-up company announced it would be laying off roughly one-third of its employees on May 25, 2022. This decision will impact 250 workers in total, 150 of which are based in the U.S. and Canada.
• Honeywell: Reports of an increase in layoffs within the company has surfaced.

June

• Ontario Health: There are reports that employees who are not compliant with the organization’s COVID-19 vaccination policy, implemented in October 2021, will be placed on a leave of absence for four weeks. The employees who fail to be fully vaccinated by the end of that period will be terminated for cause, and will not be given notice or severance pay.
• NorthRiver Midstream: The oil and gas processing company has reportedly had an increased amount of staff that have been laid off.
• Enjoy Technology: There are reports of an increase in the amount of employees being laid off. The company has not released an official announcement to comment on the layoffs at this time.
• Tesla: Electric car maker Tesla is slashing 10 per cent of its salaried workers, Elon Musk told employees on June 3. Hourly-wage employees, however, are expected to increase within the company.
• Wealthsimple: The financial technology company based in Toronto is cutting 13% of its workforce in response to the downturn in the global technology sector.
• Aurora Cannabis: The Canadian cannabis producer is reorganizing, resulting in layoffs for 12 per cent of its workforce.
• Netflix: The streaming giant announced another round of layoffs, impacting 300 employees mostly in the U.S.
• Telus: The telecommunications company signs a deal to acquire LifeWorks for $2.9 billion (CAD). Some employees are expected to be let go as a result of this transaction.
• Bonanza Ledge Mine: Osisko Development is putting 85 employees on temporary layoff after closing the Bonanza Ledge mine in Wells, B.C.
• Hexo Cannabis: The cannabis producer laid off 142 employees at its Atholville plant in New Brunswick. The plant employed about 475 people just two years ago, but after many rounds of layoffs only 108 employees remain.

July

• Shopify: The Ottawa-based e-commerce giant is laying off 10% of its global workforce after it said it misjudged the growth of e-commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shopify said in a blog post that most of the staff impacted work in recruiting, support, and sales.
• Clearco: The Toronto-based e-commerce investment platform is laying off 25 per cent of its workforce after claiming that it increased its headcount “too quickly in anticipation of continued economic growth.” 125 employees of Clearco’s 500-person team were affected by the cuts.

August

• Unbounce: The Vancouver-based landing page platform is laying off 47 employees, or 20 per cent of its workforce, as part of a company-wide restructuring. The company did not disclose how many workers from Unbounce and LeadsRx were affected by the cuts.
• Article: The Vancouver-based online furniture company is laying off 216 employees, or 17 per cent of its workforce, as demand for e-commerce continues to cool off. Article said that affected staff will receive severance, have their benefits extended, and will be able to keep their equipment (i.e. laptops).
• Hootsuite: The Vancouver-based social media company is laying off 30 per cent of its workforce as part of a global restructuring. Hootsuite did not disclose the specific number of employees affected by the cuts.
• West Fraser: The Canadian wood products company announced that it is reducing production by cutting a shift at three B.C. mills. Without the shift, 147 jobs are on the chopping block.
• Wayfair: The online furniture and home decor retailer is laying off five per cent of its global workforce as demand for e-commerce continues to cool down. The company did not disclose how many employees in North America are affected by the cuts.
• Ford: The North American automaker is laying off approximately 3,000 non-unionized workers in a bid to lower costs as it shifts its focus to electric vehicles. Around 120 jobs in Canada are expected to be affected by the cuts.
• Q4: The Toronto-based investor-relations software maker and provider is laying off approximately 48 employees, or eight per cent of its workforce, in a bid to cut costs as Canadian tech companies grapple with a sector-wide downturn. The company said the restructuring is designed to focus the sales, marketing, and product teams on the most important areas of the business.
• Mood and Flora Cannabis: Running out of product, both B.C.-based cannabis businesses are laying off staff as a strike by the British Columbia General Employees’ Union rages on. Mood Cannabis has cut 90 per cent of its workforce at two of its stores in Nanaimo. Flora Cannabis has temporarily laid off 30 employees.
• Clearco: The Toronto-based e-commerce investment company is cutting 60 employees in the U.K. Ireland, Australia, and Germany as it hands off its international business. The reduction comes after Clearco laid off a quarter of its workforce in July.
• Snap: The parent company of Snapchat is laying off approximately 1,300 employees, or 20 per cent of its workforce, as part of a company-wide restructuring. The Santa Monica-based social media giant did not disclose if staff members in Canada are affected by the cuts.
• Shopify: The Ottawa-based e-commerce giant reportedly laid off an additional 70 workers as it continues to grapple with a sector-wide downturn. The reduction comes after the company laid off 10 per cent of its workforce in July.

September

• Brose North America: The autoparts maker announced that it will lay off 300 workers at its London, Ontario facility by the end of 2023. In a statement, the company’s president said “cost priorities, parts shortages, lowered production volumes, and other market turbulence have made competitive manufacturing at our London location impossible.”
• Napoleon: The fireplace, grill, and gas furnace manufacturer is laying off 80 full-time associates at its locations in Barrie, Ontario as pandemic demand cools off. The reduction comes after the manufacturer held a job fair last year to fill 100 positions on its assembly line in the city.
• Meta: The tech giant is reportedly planning to trim its headcount as it looks to cut costs by at least 10 per cent over the next few months. While Meta isn’t using the term “layoffs”, executives say departments are being reorganized and affected staff have been given a certain amount of time to apply for other roles. The company didn’t disclose how many Canadian employees are impacted by the cuts.

October

• Intel: The world’s largest semiconductor chip manufacturer reportedly intends to slash its staff by as much as 20 per cent in some divisions by late October. This will result in thousands of layoffs. Intel didn’t disclose how many Canadian employees could be affected by the reduction.
• Microsoft: The tech giant confirmed to multiple news outlets that it’s laying off nearly 1,000 employees worldwide. The move comes a few months after the company cut less than one per cent of its workforce in July. Microsoft didn’t disclose how many Canadian workers will be affected by the latest round of layoffs.
• RenoRun: The Montreal-based tech startup is laying off 210 employees, or 43 per cent of its workforce, in a bid to reduce costs. RenoRun’s CEO said the level of uncertainty in both the macroeconomic and the venture capital environment has required the company to plan for the worst and reduce expenses.

November

• Hootsuite: The social media company is laying off five per cent of its workforce as part of a global restructuring. The reduction comes after Hootsuite cut 30 per cent of its staff in August.
• Suncor Energy: The energy giant is reducing the size of its contractor workforce by 20 per cent in an effort to improve the safety and performance of its oilsands operations. During a conference call with analysts, Interim CEO Kris Smith said Suncor is on track to complete the cuts by the first half of 2023.
• Twitter: New owner Elon Musk has begun laying off approximately 3,700 employees, or 50 per cent of the company’s workforce, in a bid to reduce costs. Unconfirmed reports suggest that a large number of Twitter Canada workers could be affected by the cuts.
• Stripe: The online payments giant announced that it’s laying off 14 per cent of its workforce as it grapples with high operating costs. Most of the cuts will occur in the company’s recruiting division. In a memo to staff on Nov. 3, CEO Patrick Collison said Stripe “overhired for the world we’re in.” The company didn’t disclose how many Canadian workers could be affected.
• Manulife: The insurer has reportedly laid off 50 employees in Canada as it moves away from property operations. In a statement, a spokesperson for the company said its Canadian property operations teams will move to Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) in March 2023. JLL is a Chicago-based commercial real estate and property management firm.
• DoorDash: The food delivery service is eliminating approximately 1,250 corporate jobs as it grapples with a slowdown in demand and high operating expenses. In a memo to staff, DoorDash warned that its operating expenses are on track to outgrow revenue. The company didn’t disclose how many Canadian employees will be affected by the cuts.
• Canopy Growth: The licensed cannabis producer is laying off 55 employees as it restructures its operations in Canada. The reduction comes as the company appoints Dave Paterson as the new president of its Canadian operations. A spokesperson said the changes “reflect Canopy Growth’s resolute focus on achieving profitability in Canada.”

December

• Cisco: The networking giant is planning to lay off approximately five per cent of its workforce as part of a multimillion-dollar restructuring. Cisco didn’t disclose how many Canadian employees are affected by the latest round of cuts.