KINGSTON, Ont. - Union officials representing 8,000 hospital staff meet in Kingston today to call on the Ontario government to honour health care funding pledges.
CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions warns that freezing hospital funding "would kill 9,000 Ontario health care jobs" and degrade patient care.
Council president Michael Hurley says even if the province keeps a promise of a 2.1 per cent funding increase, there will still be deep cuts because the rate of inflation for hospitals is 3.5 per cent.
With a 2.1 per cent funding boost, says Hurley, Ontario hospitals would leave up to 4,000 positions unfilled and up to 1,000 hospital employees would be laid off.
In early December, the Ontario Health Coalition warned that some hospital boards face such a shortfall they may close small and rural hospitals.
Health Minister David Caplan responded by saying direct funding for hospitals has jumped 30 per cent under the Liberal government.
