Erosion of Expertise: Science Centre Layoffs Threaten STEM Pathways for Newcomers

The Ontario Science Centre's recent decision to gut its specialized science unit is more than a corporate restructuring; it is a dismantling of the educational infrastructure that supports newcomer youth and aspiring STEM professionals in the Greater Toronto Area.

According to reporting from CBC Toronto and CityNews Toronto, the Ontario Science Centre has laid off 31 workers—consisting of 27 permanent and four contract roles, per the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 549. Most critically, these cuts have eliminated the center's "standalone science unit," a move that OPSEU Local 549 president Raluca Ellis described as a loss of over 540 years of combined service.

For newcomers, these public institutions often serve as the primary gateway into Canadian professional networks. Martin Fischer, a science educator who immigrated to Canada in 1999 and worked at the center for nearly 30 years, told CBC Toronto that the science center was the only place he applied for a job upon his arrival. The loss of such veteran mentorship is a blow to the ecosystem of science education in the province.

**Opinion: A Bridge Burned** While the province frames these cuts as a necessary pivot toward a new $1-billion facility at Ontario Place, the removal of a dedicated science department risks turning a premier educational hub into a superficial attraction. When the very experts who design the learning experiences are removed, the "bridge" that helps marginalized and newcomer youth transition from curiosity to a STEM career is effectively burned. Public institutions are not just buildings; they are the repositories of expertise that guide the next generation of Canadian innovators.

**The Province's Position** Government officials maintain that the quality of education will not suffer. Scott Clark, a spokesperson for Ontario's Tourism Ministry, stated that the changes are designed to "effectively and successfully deliver science learning experiences" at the interim Harbourfront Centre and the future Ontario Place location. The office of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Zee Hamid further asserted that science programming and expertise remain "embedded across the entire organization" and that there will be no change to the learning experiences delivered.

Furthermore, the province claims these changes will eventually create 1,000 new jobs, and CEO Paul Kortenaar told staff in a video conference call obtained by The Canadian Press that the restructuring is necessary to prepare for the future, including the creation of new teams such as a research and impact team.

**Critical Backlash** Critics, however, view the move as a pivot away from education. Jason Ash, co-chair of the advocacy group Save Ontario’s Science Centre, told both CBC Toronto and CityNews Toronto that the layoffs reposition the center as a "vacation day trip for American tourists" rather than an educational destination for children.

This sentiment was echoed by Liberal provincial legislator Adil Shamji, who compared the elimination of the science department to running a "hospital without doctors and nurses," urging the province to return programming to the original east Toronto building, which was abruptly closed in 2024 due to roof deficiencies cited in an engineering report.