Here is our summary of the hirings and layoffs that made headlines in Canada in October 2023.
Hirings
NorthVolt arrives in Quebec. A new battery factory, NorthVolt Six, is under construction on the south shore of Montreal. The factory will be dedicated to the assembly of sustainable, high-quality battery cells production and will also have its own recycling facility.
The project, which will begin in the fall of 2023, is expected to create 4,000 jobs by 2026, when the first production lines will be delivered.
A new 20,000 square foot facility dedicated to multi health-care specialties, in Alberton, PEI, will recruit around 20 health care workers. The center has been doted $7.6 million to improve patient care in this area.
After the Saskatchewan Party government introduced legislation clearing the way for Physician Assistants (PAs) to work in the province in March, the Saskatchewan Health Authority plans to hire a dozen physician assistants (PAs) during a fall recruitment push. This will provide health care professionals the ability to see more patients in a timely manner and reduce wait times
Amazon plans to hire 6,000 people across Canada in its warehouses for the holiday season. These seasonal positions, full-time or part-time, involve warehousing, packaging, sorting, picking and shipping. The hourly wages of employees assigned to shipping orders and transport will also be increased.
Dismissals
Olymel has announced the closure of another Quebec factory, in Princeville in Center-du-Québec. The factory will cease operations on November 10, affecting 300 workers. Olymel indicated that certain employees could relocate within the company.
BMO Financial Group plans to close its indirect retail auto finance business in order to reroute resources, as borrowers dig deep to stay on top of recent interest rate hikes.
The decision will also trigger an unspecified number of layoffs in Canada and the U.S., the Bank of Montreal said.
Telecommunications giant Telus says it is trimming 6,000 jobs, citing its need to free up cash flow and remain competitive.
The cuts involve 4,000 positions at its main Telus business and 2,000 at Telus International and include offers of early retirement and voluntary departure packages.
Canadian sports drink manufacturer BioSteel in Ontario protects itself from its creditors
Cannabis producer Canopy Growth, which owns a majority stake in BioSteel, says it will stop financing the sports nutrition maker and shelter the company from creditors.
In a significant restructuring move, Metroland Media Group is laying off 605 employees and ending the print edition of its community newspapers, as it seeks creditor protection under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
Metroland is owned by NordStar Capital, which also owns the Toronto Star newspaper. The Toronto Star is not part of the restructuring.