College letting 15 employees go

THUNDER BAY -- Changes to federal funding have forced Confederation College to lay off 15 people.

Contract skills training funding through the federal government's labour market development was used by the college for everything from basic numeracy to introductory skills training. But that funding, around $2 million for the Thunder Bay college, is now going to industry instead president Jim Madder said. That's led to 15 people being laid-off. Some have already been let go while others will stay at the school until the end of June. Around one-third of the people are taking retirement. 

"We'd love to have them stay but that's not going to happen," Madder said.

"Unfortunately our revenue is down significantly."

If the funding comes back, the college could hire again Madder said. Hundreds of students used those programs every year that will no longer be available.

Madder said the people the college was forced to lay off did great work and will be missed.