Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli is firing back over claims from labour that the North Bay Regional Health Centre and other hospitals face layoffs and bed shortages because of government under-funding.
The lost beds and jobs claim was made by Michael Hurley, the President of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions.
Hurley says although the Ford government has increased the health budget, he says that increase is still three percent short of what hospitals need to operate each year.
He says that ongoing underfunding will result in 15 lost beds and 82 layoffs at the North Bay hospital by 2024.
In response, Fedeli says the Ford government has injected the health budget with an additional $1.3 billion.
Fedeli says that includes $4.5 million earmarked for the North Bay hospital.
Fedeli also repeated recent announcements for Nipissing District including $55 million to redevelop the Casselholme long-term care facility, nearly $3.4 million for the Nipissing Serenity Hospice and $1 million for Mattawa’s long-term care home.
The MPP says the Ford government is committed to ending hallway medicine and is acting on this.