Saskatchewan·NewSaskatchewan Polytechnic’s staffing cuts continued this week as another 25 people were laid off, bringing the total layoffs since April to 66.Since April, a total of 66 staff have been let goChris Edwards · CBC News · Posted: Oct 16, 2025 8:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: 21 minutes ago66 faculty staff members have lost their jobs at Sask Polytech since April 2025. (Kirk Fraser/CBC)Another 25 staff members were laid off from Saskatchewan Polytechnic this week, the latest in a series of staffing cuts that began earlier this year.In total, 66 faculty members have lost their jobs at the college since April, which has merged and dissolved several departments to save money. Michelle Downton, president of the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Faculty Association, said many of this week’s cuts impacted counsellors and other student-facing roles.“Having less student supports available may drive students that would normally study in Moose Jaw or Prince Albert or smaller campuses into our bigger centres like Regina and Saskatoon,” said Downtown, adding that the service reductions could even drive students out of the province entirely.The cuts come after the surprise closure of two campus bookstores at Sask Polytech’s Prince Albert and Moose Jaw campuses on Oct. 10. The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union said 10 of its members lost their jobs due to the closures. Those 10 employees are in addition to the total of 66 staff laid off at the institution.Tajinder Grewal, the NDP’s shadow minister for advanced education, blamed the latest cuts on a lack of funding from the provincial government.“We are in this horrible position because of the funding cuts from the last number of years to post-secondary education institutions,” Grewal said at a news conference on Thursday.He pointed to the Sask. Party’s decision to cut funding for advanced education in its most recent budget, and criticized the lack of a new, stable four-year funding agreement. In its 2025-26 budget, the Saskatchewan government provided $788 million for the Ministry of Advanced Education, a drop of $6 million from the $793 million provided in the previous budget.International student enrolment declineIn a statement, the Saskatchewan government disputed Grewal’s characterization of the causes of the layoffs, pointing instead to the broad decline in international students that has been affecting schools across the country.“Saskatchewan Polytechnic along with other post-secondary institutions across Canada are making these kinds of difficult decisions because of the changes the federal government has made to the international student program, which have reduced student enrolment,” it said.In early 2024, the federal government introduced a cap on international student visas, citing pressure on housing, health care and other social services. In the first half of 2025, international student permits plummeted nationally by nearly 90,000 new visas.Grewal acknowledged the decline in international students was also playing a role in this week’s cuts.“Post-secondary institutions should not be dependent on international students to fill the gaps for their budget shortfalls,” he said.In a statement to CBC about its Oct. 10 bookstore closures, the school said it “continues to work to address a significant decline in revenue in its 2025-26 budget, created by a sharp decline in international student enrolment.”According to its official census reports, the number and percentage of international students at Sask Polytech had been increasing — prior to the federal government putting the cap on international student visas.In its report for the 2017-18 year, Sask Polytech reported that 710 of its students, or four per cent of the total population, were on student visas.In its most recent census on the 2024-25 school year, the school reported that 4,604 of its students were on international visas, comprising 23 per cent of total enrolment.The numbers for 2025-26 are not yet available.ABOUT THE AUTHORChris Edwards is a reporter at CBC Saskatchewan. Before entering journalism, he worked in the tech industry.With files from Jessica Wong and Aishah Ashraf
Sask. Polytech lays off 25 more staff members as budget woes continue
