There have been more layoffs at General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS).
The London-based defence giant announced Thursday it has cut 37 salaried positions from its Oxford Street facility.
"General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada has reviewed our current business environment and work forecast and concluded that a workforce reduction of 37 salaried positions was necessary," said Doug Wilson-Hodge, manager of corporate affairs for GDLS. "The reductions are part of a normal cycle of work and the business structure requires that we make adjustments to take this into account."
Wilson-Hodge added that the layoffs are not related to "recent events" the Canadian government is addressing with Saudi Arabia. The Trudeau government has been increasingly under pressure to cancel a multi-billion dollar deal GDLS landed in 2014 to provide Saudi Arabia with armoured vehicles. The calls to cancel the contract have come as outrage continues to grow over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month.
In September, GDLS laid off 28 contract workers, predominantly in the engineering department.
The defence firm's last major deal was made in February 2017, when it was awarded a $404 million contract to upgrade 141 of the Canadian Armed Forces’ light armoured vehicles.
