Massive Layoffs Shake Ontario’s Education Sector: Canadian colleges, especially in Ontario, are facing a deep crisis following a sharp decline in international student enrolment. Nearly 10,000 faculty, administrative, and support staff have lost their jobs across the province’s public college system.
The main cause? A federal cap on study permits, which has led to a sudden fall in students from India—once the largest source of international enrolments.
Indian Student Drop Hits Colleges the Hardest
Ontario’s 24 public colleges are among the worst hit. At some institutions, Indian students made up over half of the international student population. With the cap in place, many programs are being cancelled, courses cut back, and essential staff let go.
Colleges that had expanded rapidly to cater to international demand now find themselves financially overstretched and struggling to stay afloat.
Reliance on International Tuition Backfires
According to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), stagnant government funding pushed colleges to rely too heavily on international tuition fees. The current collapse in Indian enrolments has exposed the risks of this funding model.
OPSEU President JP Hornick has called the situation “devastating” and urged urgent financial help from both provincial and federal governments to prevent more cuts.
Public-Private College Deals Under Fire
The crisis has also drawn attention to the controversial partnerships between public colleges and private education providers. These private affiliates focused aggressively on recruiting Indian students.
With fewer study permits being approved, many of these partnerships are on the brink of collapse. Critics are calling for better regulation and oversight of such deals to protect both academic quality and student welfare.
Economic Fallout Extends Beyond Campus
This wave of job losses is one of the largest in Canada’s education sector in recent memory. It has triggered concern not only for educators but also for local communities that depend on college employment and student spending.
OPSEU warns that more layoffs and program closures could follow unless governments intervene with emergency funding and long-term planning.
What’s Next for Canadian Colleges?
Without a sustainable funding plan, Canadian colleges risk further destabilisation. Experts say it’s time to rethink how post-secondary education is funded and managed.
Diversifying revenue streams, reducing dependence on foreign tuition, and strengthening public investment will be key to building a more resilient education system.
The mass layoffs in Ontario’s colleges show how vulnerable the sector has become. As student numbers drop and revenue dries up, colleges across Canada must find smarter, more stable ways to operate. For now, the future of thousands of educators—and the students they serve—remains uncertain.
