The Announcement and Its Immediate Ripple Effects

St. Lawrence College (SLC), a prominent public college in Ontario with campuses in Kingston, Brockville, and Cornwall, delivered sobering news on April 30, 2026. The institution issued layoff notices to 28 full-time faculty members, effective at the conclusion of the Winter 2026 semester. Additionally, 16 other faculty were involuntarily reassigned to different programs or campuses. This move marks the latest chapter in a series of cost-cutting measures that have reshaped the college's operations.

Kingston, home to SLC's largest campus, bore the brunt of these changes, followed by Cornwall and Brockville. While exact breakdowns per site remain confidential to respect privacy, the terminations stem directly from earlier program suspensions. Faculty whose roles were linked to phased-out offerings or underperforming programs received the notices after collaborative discussions with their union, adhering to the collective agreement's protocols.

Programs on the Chopping Block and Faculty Ties

The layoffs trace back to January 2025, when SLC suspended intakes for 55 programs—representing about 40 percent of its offerings—starting that spring semester. These suspensions targeted areas struggling with enrollment viability, including a wide array of business-related diplomas (e.g., Business Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing), creative fields like Culinary Skills, Music Theatre Performance, and Visual Arts, as well as health and community programs such as Child and Youth Care, Health Information Management, and Mental Wellness and Addictions Worker.

• Kingston: Culinary Skills (K1004), Child & Youth Care (K0301), Health Information Management (K1008), User Experience Design, Digital Marketing Communications, various apprenticeships like General Machinist and Brick & Stone Mason.
• Brockville and Cornwall: Business Fundamentals, General Arts and Science (one-year and diploma), Police Foundations, Hospitality, Tourism.

Current students in these programs face no disruptions; they can complete their studies as planned. However, prospective learners have fewer options, prompting questions about access to vocational training in Eastern Ontario. Faculty tied to these programs, many with years of service, now navigate displacement or exit, exacerbating reliance on part-time contracts—which already comprise 75 percent of SLC's teaching workforce.

Underlying Pressures: Enrollment Drops and Chronic Underfunding

At the heart of SLC's challenges lies a perfect storm: plummeting international student numbers and Ontario's lowest-per-domestic-student funding in Canada. Federal study permit caps, tightened in 2024 and held steady at 408,000 for 2026 (down 16 percent from 2024), have slashed revenues. International tuition once fueled 40-50 percent of many colleges' budgets; SLC anticipated a drop from 12,000 to under 10,000 students.

Ontario's colleges, underfunded for over a decade, now confront a province-wide crisis. OPSEU reports nearly 10,000 job losses and 600 program suspensions or cancellations since 2024. SLC's "Efficiency Audit" accelerated cuts: over 100 support staff gone since 2024, management trimmed 42 percent, support roles by 34 percent. Libraries at smaller campuses morphed into book vending machines, symbolizing leaner operations.OPSEU's detailed report outlines how these policies have forced radical restructuring.

Provincial investments, touted at $7 billion annually (up 30 percent), fall short of reversing years of freezes, per critics. SLC President Glenn Vollebregt emphasized aligning offerings with labor market demands and sustainability, praising affected faculty's dedication.

OPSEU Local 417's Stance: Saddened but Mobilized

OPSEU/SEFPO Local 417, representing SLC faculty, expressed deep sorrow over the layoffs. President Christina Decarie warned of long-term consequences for access and quality: "Short-term financial pressures are being addressed through cuts that will have lasting impacts on regional workforce development." Vice-President Tabatha Rutledge highlighted the shock, noting few knew beforehand, and disputed claims decoupling layoffs from the impending merger.

The union filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board to pause merger due diligence. They advocate for restored base funding, grant-based OSAP, and tuition restoration via petitions to Premier Doug Ford. Joint statements with support staff Local 418 decry precarious work, management bloat, and morale erosion, urging transparent Employment Stability Committees.SLC Faculty Local 417 site tracks campaigns like #saveourcolleges.

Photo by Marquise Kamanke on Unsplash