ManitobaRed River College Polytechnic is preparing to lay off 44 workers at their Centre for Newcomer Integration in the spring as a result of federal funding cuts.44 Centre for Newcomer Integration workers will be laid off or have their term endedJura McIlraith · CBC News · Posted: Nov 28, 2025 5:29 PM EST | Last Updated: 6 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Red River College Polytechnic plans to lay off 44 staff members at the Centre for Newcomer Integration in the spring due to federal funding cuts. (CBC)Forty-four Red River College Polytechnic staff are being laid off as a result of federal funding cuts.RRC Polytechnic confirmed Friday afternoon 13 permanent staff will be laid off, while terms will expire for 31 term employees at the college’s Centre for Newcomer Integration at the end of March. This means the CNI’s annual capacity of more than 6,700 seats will drop to 1,360 and affect roughly 1,400 newcomers. As of spring 2026, stage two language training will no longer be offered.“We understand how difficult and unsettling this is for everyone involved,” a release sent to RRC Polytech staff says. “It represents one of the most significant impacts we have experienced as a result of recent federal immigration decisions.”Over the past two years, the release says, several Canada-wide immigration changes put in place by the federal government have affected international students and language course delivery.“We are now seeing those new measures impact our delivery of language training at RRC Polytech’s Centre for Newcomer Integration, which we provide on behalf of the Government of Canada,” the release reads.Earlier this year, the college entered a new three-year agreement with Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to deliver language training on their behalf. The agreement did not include ongoing funding for stage two language training in the last two years.Stage two training helps students gain intermediate language skills and more advanced, occupation-specific training for newcomers.“It helps people with skills needed in Manitoba’s key sectors to improve their language abilities so they can live, work and pursue local career and training opportunities,” the release says.The statement says after March 31, the college will have to prepare for those reductions to programs and services. A spokesperson for the college said if additional funding becomes available before spring, they will adjust accordingly.Those staff are members of the Manitoba Government Employees Union. Its president, Kyle Ross, calls the layoffs an “unfortunate situation.”Ross says he feels for the workers and their families, but also the newcomers who access the language programming.“When they don’t have the proper tools to integrate into the province or take that education because perhaps their English skills are not up to a level where it makes it a lot easier, it’s really unfortunate,” Ross said. “It’s going to hurt our workforce.”A request for comment from the IRCC has been submitted. A spokesperson said a response would be provided as soon as possible.CorrectionsA previous version of this story said RRC Polytech would have to prepare for more reductions to programs and services after March 31. In fact, the college says the layoffs and reductions it has confirmed at the Centre for Newcomer Integration will take effect after March 31.Nov 28, 2025 7:57 PM ESTABOUT THE AUTHORJura McIlraith is a CBC Manitoba reporter based in Steinbach. She started her journalism career covering stories in the southeast for The Carillon. Since then, she has worked for multiple print publications including the Winnipeg Free Press and in radio for 680 CJOB. You can reach her at jura.mcilraith@cbc.ca.
RRC Polytech plans spring layoffs in wake of federal funding cuts
