Humber Polytechnic says it will move forward with layoffs affecting faculty and support staff after a voluntary employee exit program failed to close the school’s projected budget gap for 2026-27.
In a March 24, 2026 statement, Humber Polytechnic president and CEO Ann Marie Vaughan said the institution had seen strong uptake in its Voluntary Employee Exit Program, but the measure did not go far enough to stabilize its finances.
“While the (Voluntary Employee Exit Program) saw strong participation, it did not fully address the projected fiscal gap for 2026–27. As a result, we must still proceed with involuntary employee reductions,” Vaughan wrote.
The college introduced the exit packages last month after Vaughan said more significant steps were needed to deal with growing budget shortfalls.
Her latest letter did not specify how many employees accepted the voluntary packages, nor did it say how many staff positions will now be eliminated. It did confirm, though, that three members of Humber’s senior executive team will leave in the coming months.
Vaughan said layoffs among administrative staff have already been completed. Reductions involving support staff and faculty will now move ahead under the terms of the applicable collective agreements, with the process expected to begin shortly.
Humber’s financial challenges reflect a wider crisis facing Ontario’s college sector. Institutions across the province, including Fanshawe, Sheridan and Georgian, have been under mounting pressure since the federal government imposed a cap on international students in 2024.
Those students typically pay far higher tuition than domestic learners, making them a major revenue source for colleges. To manage the impact, Ontario colleges have already cut $1.4 billion in costs, suspended more than 600 programs and eliminated 8,000 positions.
A provincial tuition freeze introduced in 2019 also added strain to college finances. The Ontario government reversed that policy in February and announced $6.4 billion in new sector funding over four years.
Leadership transition begins as uncertainty grows
Premier Doug Ford, asked about Humber’s situation at a news conference in February, said: “I wish them all the best… Run it like a business.”
Vaughan said Humber will move to an interim executive structure effective March 30. She also acknowledged the strain the cuts have placed on staff across the institution.
“Many colleagues have been directly impacted in recent days, others are supporting teammates through loss and transition, and some are living with uncertainty about what lies ahead in the weeks to come. I want to sincerely acknowledge the emotional toll this takes and to thank all colleagues for the care, kindness, and professionalism you continue to show one another and our students.”
With support staff and faculty layoffs set to begin soon, Humber now joins a growing list of Ontario colleges making deeper cuts as the sector adjusts to a new financial reality.
