Ontario Hospitals Brace For Possible Budget Freeze
Posted December 18, 2009 9:59 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ontario hospitals – and the people that use them – are bracing for a possible budget freeze.
That could mean longer line-ups and reduced services.
Health Minister Deb Matthews warned that the province is dealing with a $24.7 billion deficit, and an increase in funds might not be possible.
Last year, budgets went up by 2.1 per cent. Critics contend that because the increase was so small – it was less than inflation – services were cut across Ontario.
A possible budget freeze means a cut to services, argued NDP leader Andrea Horwath, because hospitals won’t be able to meet rising costs.
The $24.7 billion deficit is the largest in Ontario history.
With files from The Canadian Press.
