4 days ago
Six layoffs announced at Sault College, eight positions declared redundant
It was a sombre day at Sault College for staff on Thursday as officials announced eight full-time support staff positions were being declared redundant.
It was a sombre day at Sault College for staff on Thursday as officials announced eight full-time support staff positions were being declared redundant.
Earlier in the day, staff members in those positions were provided with written notice of reassignment. The reassignments are going to result in the layoff of six full-time employees after the layoff/bumping process is complete.
Sault College
It was a sombre day at Sault College for staff on Thursday as officials announced eight full-time support staff positions were being declared redundant. (File)
'This difficult decision was made in direct response to unprecedented financial constraints facing the institution. The college is currently managing a projected $5.6 million deficit for 2025-26,' the college said in an emailed statement.
Reasons behind the financial problems include the cap on international students put in place by the federal government, ongoing provincial tuition and grant funding freezes and rising operational costs.
The college also cited what it calls 'a challenging post-secondary funding landscape.'
The college's employment stability committee made the recommendations following established procedures and considering all other possible measures to preserve jobs, the statement added.
Sault College said 16 administrative staff, support staff and faculty members have retired since 2024 and were not replaced. Nine staff members took voluntary exits and were not replaced and 12 staff members accepted voluntary departure packages.
The college has also enacted a hiring and salary freeze, suspended 20 programs and conducted a comprehensive cost review.
Ontario's Minister of Colleges and Universities, Nolan Quinn, visited the city this week, spending time at both the college and Algoma University. He visited Sault College's health sciences lab and skilled trades spaces.
The college is just the latest post-secondary institution to cite financial difficulties. Ontario Public Service Employees Union said this week the province is undergoing one of the largest mass layoffs in the province's history, with nearly 10,000 job losses.
