Hamilton hospital cuts show Ford’s health care crisis is hitting the city hard

HAMILTON – Ontario NDP MPPs Sandy Shaw (Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas) and Robin Lennox (Hamilton Centre) are responding to news that St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton will cut 62 positions as the hospital struggles with significant financial pressure.

Shaw pressed the Premier in Question Period today, warning that Hamilton is paying the price for the government’s funding decisions.

“These job losses are a direct result of this government’s cuts to our hospitals. People in Hamilton feel every single cut, in the wait times, in the struggle to find a family doctor, in a system that keeps sending them in circles,” said Shaw. “Nearly half of Ontario hospitals are now facing deficits under this government. These cuts hit real workers with families to support, and with flu season here, this is a disaster for Hamilton patients and staff.”

Hamilton Centre MPP Robin Lennox echoed the alarm.

“This government is a massive jobs disaster for workers and for the patients who depend on them. These hospital job losses are a direct result of the Ford government cutting funding for our hospitals at a time when healthcare workers are already stretched thin trying to care for people,” said Lennox. “Ontario’s hospitals already run on some of the smallest budgets in the country. To get our hospitals healthy again we must have enough staff and ensure that we have enough hospital beds so that patients aren't left waiting in hallways.”

St. Joseph’s says the cuts are part of a plan to find more than $9 million in savings as the hospital faces a serious deficit.

“Communities like ours are watching their hospitals shrink in real time. Hamilton cannot afford more cuts, and people deserve stability, not chaos created by this government,” Lennox said.