Kingstonist started investigating rumors about layoffs at the INVISTA plant in Kingston earlier this week, but Koch Canada, INVISTA’s partner company, was not very open. Greg Lemon, Director of Corporate Affairs and Media Relations for Koch, responded to several inquiries via email and phone by stating that Paul Brown, Koch’s representative in Kingston, would get back to us. Later on Tuesday, Jun. 2, 2026, Lemon confirmed that layoffs had taken place.
“As part of a broader business transformation, we are implementing targeted organizational changes, including the difficult decision to reduce some roles at our Kingston facility,” Lemon said in an email to Kingstonist.
“These are not decisions we make lightly, and we recognize the real impact they have on employees and their families. We are committed to supporting those affected through this process and deeply value the ongoing partnership with the local community.”
The Koch representative mentioned he wouldn’t comment on how many employees were laid off at Kingston’s INVISTA facility, which used to be a Du Pont plant located on Front Road.
On Wednesday, Jun. 3, 2026, Lemon was asked for details about which positions were being cut at INVISTA and when exactly the layoffs happened.
No response was received.
However, on Friday morning, Jun. 5, 2026, Ted Hsu, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Kingston and the Islands confirmed that layoffs had indeed occurred and stated that over 100 local workers are now unemployed.
“Today we learned that more than 100 people will be losing their jobs at the INVISTA plant in Kingston,” Hsu said in an official statement. He noted that those laid off represent over 14 percent of the “entire workforce” at that facility.
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MPP Ted Hsu. Photo via Ontario Legislative Assembly.
“As the largest private sector employer in Kingston, this is a considerable loss for our community and province. When jobs are cut at a facility like this one it impacts much more than just those who work there. It affects families, suppliers, local businesses as well as our broader community.”
The MPP continued by saying both INVISTA workers and the community “deserve transparency” regarding why these job cuts happened and what support will be provided to those who were laid off.
“I will be looking for clear communication from both INVISTA and the provincial government on this,” he added.
Hsu pointed out that Premier Doug Ford was “very public about workers losing their jobs” at Crown Royal’s plant in Amherstburg and expects him to take “an equally strong stance regarding similar job losses” occurring here in Kingston.
“I will reach out to Minister of Economic Development Job Creation and Trade [Vic Fedeli], Minister of Labour Immigration Training and Skills Development [David Piccini], as well as the Premier about these layoffs to discuss what actions might be taken by provincial government to assist workers and their families.”
Hsu also mentioned last year’s closure of INVISTA’s Maitland location in September when INVISTA/Koch assured Kingstonist that it wouldn’t impact operations at the Kingston site.
“The government has a role in ensuring communities aren’t left behind while making sure employment support programs and retraining opportunities for other jobs become available quickly,” Hsu concluded his statement by calling these job cuts “another blow to eastern Ontario workers.”INVISTA produces nylon ingredients globally with over 10 ,000 employees.
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