FORD CONSERVATIVES PUSH ONTARIO TOWARD GREATER STAFFING SHORTAGES IN HEALTHCARE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

QUEEN’S PARK – Today’s report from the Financial Accountability Office (FAO) reaffirmed what Ontarians already knew – the largest risk to our publicly funded healthcare system is Doug Ford’s inability to fill the vacancies created by Bill 124. 

“Healthcare workers are leaving the sector in droves because of Bill 124 and Doug Ford’s unwillingness to pay our frontline workers the wages they deserve,” said MPP Stephanie Bowman, Ontario Liberal Finance Critic. “The government’s irresponsible decision-making has put this province on a direct track to even greater staffing shortages and longer wait times for patients than we are already witnessing.” 

According to the FAO, Ontario will need to hire over 138,000 new public sector employees by 2026-27 to avoid further reductions in the level of care Ontarians receive in our hospitals and long-term care homes. 

"Ontario is in a global competition to hire the healthcare workers we desperately need," said MPP John Fraser, Interim Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. "By restricting their wages and taking away their right to bargain, Doug Ford has made working in Ontario unappealing to those who have dedicated their livelihoods to caring for our loved ones."

“Bill 124 has done more damage to the front lines of healthcare than any other piece of legislation in recent history,” continued MPP Fraser. “The government just ran a $2.1 billion surplus. This is not about money, it's about Doug Ford's inability to admit he made a mistake and correct it."

Ontario Liberals are calling on the government to repeal Bill 124 and implement a thoughtful and reasonable approach to healthcare human resources so that we can provide Ontarians with the world-class healthcare they deserve.