TORONTO – Hamilton Health Sciences is set to cut more than 400 jobs, a decision it links directly to the province’s directives aimed at achieving balanced budgets. Other hospitals in Ontario are also making similar reductions.
An internal memo from the hospital indicates that the network is anticipating a $150 million deficit for the fiscal year 2026-27, prompting them to propose cutting around 413 positions, with about one-third of those roles currently unfilled.
“Some staffing levels introduced during and after the pandemic were meant to address unusual circumstances and aren’t backed by ongoing funding,” wrote president and CEO Tracey Mac Arthur.
“While there remains a high demand for hospital services, we must reduce this temporary capacity to a level that can be maintained within our funding limits.”
Last year, the Ministry of Health instructed hospitals facing deficits-which applies to most in Ontario-to create three-year plans aimed at eliminating their shortfalls, urging them to take immediate action on any “low-risk” strategies.
In her memo, Mac Arthur mentioned that the hospital network has established savings goals of two percent for clinical budgets and five percent for administrative budgets this year as part of this provincial budget balancing effort.
“HHS has a strong track record of operating efficiently,” Mac Arthur stated.
“However, like many hospitals, we’re contending with rising expenses and increasing demand for care. Following $40 million in cost reductions achieved last year, we need to take further steps to stay within our available funding.”
A representative for Health Minister Sylvia Jones commented that changes at Hamilton Health Sciences will not affect patient services or access to care.
“As we work towards modernizing and enhancing hospital care delivery, we’ve asked hospitals to plan for their long-term stability while ensuring they provide high-quality care in their communities for years ahead,” Lily Barnes noted in a statement.
Barnes also highlighted that Ontario increased hospital funding by four percent this year.
Despite this increase totaling $1.1 billion, the Ontario Hospital Association has indicated that actual needs are more than double that amount.
Jillian Watt, president of the local Canadian Union of Public Employees representing over 4,700 workers at Hamilton Health Sciences, expressed concern about how these job cuts will impact patient care.
“You’re still leaving people short,” she stated. “The work still exists; it’s just being done with fewer people.”
The memo from Hamilton Health Sciences anticipates cutting approximately 143 nursing positions and 84 health-care aide roles. However, due to a significant number of vacancies in these areas, they expect “few if any” actual job losses.
The Ontario Nurses’ Association represents registered nurses within the hospital network and claims these cuts pose yet another threat to safe patient care.
“ONA condemns these cuts which keep increasing both in Hamilton and across Ontario due to underfunding from the Ford government,” provincial president Erin Ariss stated in a release.
“The scale of RN reductions we’re witnessing now will have severe consequences. Patient care is intentionally being put at risk.”
This announcement adds to an ongoing series of announcements by various Ontario hospitals implementing staff cuts as they try balancing their budgets.
The Ottawa Hospital earlier this year announced plans for a three percent reduction in its workforce-amounting to hundreds of positions-but aims to minimize layoffs through managing vacancies and encouraging early retirements.
This process continues; however this week it was reported they’ve managed so far only 17 “involuntary departures.” London Health Sciences Centre has indicated it would be reducing nursing positions through attrition while Chatham-Kent Health Alliance announced plans for cutting 49 positions without filling existing vacancies. This report by The Canadian Press was first Sept. 24, 2026. Allision Jones, The Canadian Press
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The Ottawa Hospital earlier this year announced plans for a three percent reduction in its workforce-amounting to hundreds of positions-but aims to minimize layoffs through managing vacancies and encouraging early retirements.
This process continues; however this week it was reported they’ve managed so far only 17 “involuntary departures.” London Health Sciences Centre has indicated it would be reducing nursing positions through attrition while Chatham-Kent Health Alliance announced plans for cutting 49 positions without filling existing vacancies. This report by The Canadian Press was first Sept. 24, 2026. Allision Jones, The Canadian Press
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