Ontario hospital plans hundreds of job cuts amid budget pressure

Hamilton Health Sciences says it plans to eliminate more than 400 positions as it works to close a projected $150 million deficit for the 202627 fiscal year. The hospital network said about a third of the affected roles are currently vacant. In an internal memo, CEO Tracey MacArthur said some staffing added during and after the pandemic was intended for temporary conditions and is no longer supported by ongoing funding. She said the hospital needs to bring staffing levels in line with available resources while continuing to meet strong demand for care. The move follows a provincewide directive from Ontario’s Ministry of Health that asked hospitals with deficits to submit multiyear plans to balance their budgets. A spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the changes are not expected to affect patient services, though the Canadian Union of Public Employees local representing workers at the hospital says the cuts will likely strain care delivery. Other Ontario hospitals have also announced staffing reductions as they respond to budget pressures.