The continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic along with prolonged theatre closures, falling ad spend and a failed takeover from Cineworld have prompted Cineplex to cut “just over” 130 positions.

The positions apply to both Canada and the U.S.

Throughout the pandemic, the company has also had to issue layoffs to thousands of part-time workers due to the impact of the closures alone. Cineplex said in a statement that the recent termination of a deal that would have seen it acquired by U.K.-based Cineworld has caused the company to make “the difficult decision to scale back our resources and reduce the size of our full-time workforce.”

Positions eliminated will include senior executive retirements and departures over the coming months. Cineplex did not elaborate further on which positions will be cut.

The company added that although it is confident that the business will recover, “in the short and medium-term we are focusing on a smaller number of projects and priorities supported by a sustainable financial model.”

Additionally, it is not rushing to re-open theatres in Ontario, one of country’s hardest-hit provinces from the pandemic. Although Cineplex re-opened in some other locations – including a small number in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada – and it has been permitted to re-open locations in Ontario regions that recently entered Stage 3, it has said that it is still examining the province’s requirements and is “not in a position” to re-open in Ontario yet.