Although Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli, who is also Ontario’s Finance Minister, says there will be no hospital job cuts, a high ranking union official remains doubtful.
In addition to no job cuts, Fedeli says hospitals will be hiring doctors and nurses.
Fedeli was reacting to a report from the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) that warns of bed losses and job cuts as the Tories move forward with election promises.
OCHU President Michael Hurley claims what Fedeli and the Premier say about jobs doesn’t add up.
Health is the largest expense in the Ontario budget and Hurley maintains the Tory’s election promise to make cuts will hit various areas including the health sector.
Hurley says he hopes Fedeli is right but he doesn’t believe that’s the reality.
“I don’t think it’s possible for them to apply these spending cuts without them going after the heath budget,” Hurley said.
“And I don’t think they can go at the health budget without reducing staff.”
Hurley says employees make up 85 per cent of the health budget which to him means jobs will go.
In North Bay, the OCHU predicts the loss of 37 beds and156 jobs in a worst case scenario.