‘Last resort:’ George Brown Polytechnic announces more layoffs

George Brown Polytechnic is shown in this file photo.

Toronto’s George Brown Polytechnic has announced another round of layoffs, a move that it says is necessary due to enrollment declines that it has experienced in the wake of a new federal cap on international students.

In a statement provided to CTV News, a spokesperson for the college said that the layoffs are a “last resort.”

The college did not say how many jobs will be impacted.

In March, George Brown announced an initial round of layoffs that targeted 51 jobs.

“Like many post-secondary institutions, we continue to face financial pressures, largely driven by changes to international student policies introduced across Canada by IRCC beginning in 2024, which have affected enrolment across the sector,” the statement notes. “We have taken a measured and ongoing approach to these challenges, including voluntary retirement and voluntary exit programs, alongside other budgetary measures. Workforce decisions are a last resort, taken only after exploring all other measures and following a comprehensive review of program delivery, workload, and operational requirements.”

The union representing 55,000 college faculty and support staff across Ontario has previously warned of widespread job losses as a result of the international student cap, calling it “one of the largest mass layoffs in Ontario’s history.”

Several GTA schools have already announced layoffs, most recently Etobicoke’s Humber College.

In its statement, George Brown said that it focus remains on “supporting students and minimizing disruption to their learning experience.”