Canadian Tire cuts corporate jobs; $2B restructuring plan includes store closures and leadership shakeup

Canadian Tire Corp. has eliminated an undisclosed number of corporate roles as part of a wide-ranging restructuring initiative aimed at modernizing the company, the retailer confirmed in a statement to CTV News on Monday(July 28).

“Changes are underway and we are altering various processes and teams to transform and modernize,” the company said. “As a result, some corporate roles are expanding and others are being eliminated.”

The company declined to specify how many employees or positions were impacted.


Canadian Tire, a household name in Canada with nearly 1,700 stores nationwide, first opened in Toronto in 1927. The retail giant spans multiple brands, including SportChek, Mark’s, and PartSource. The layoffs follow a March 2025 announcement of a $2 billion, four-year investment strategy aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and driving long-term growth.

A changing landscape

While the layoffs are centered at the corporate level, the broader transformation also includes retail operations. Canadian Tire is in the process of shutting down 17 underperforming Atmosphere stores, with plans to integrate 14 of them into existing SportChek locations. The company has also implemented changes in its executive structure, including the appointment of a Chief Transformation Officer and a new Chief Operating Officer, while actively searching for a Chief Commercial Officer.

Despite the workforce reductions, Canadian Tire has reported a strong first quarter in 2025. The company is scheduled to release its second-quarter earnings on August 7, and analysts are closely watching whether the strategy is translating into improved margins and market share.

Uncertainty for workers

Although the company’s statement emphasized “modernization,” the news comes as a blow to many affected workers. Several employees shared their experiences anonymously online, describing the changes as abrupt. Some expressed frustration over a return-to-office policy that preceded the layoffs.

Employment lawyers say those affected may be entitled to substantial severance. Workers are advised to seek counsel before signing any documents.

With a legacy spanning nearly a century, Canadian Tire remains a major force in Canadian retail. But as digital disruption and shifting consumer habits reshape the sector, the company appears committed to reinventing itself, though not without cost.

The full scope of the job cuts remains unknown, but for many, the personal impact is already clear. Canadian Tire says more updates may follow in the coming weeks.