Hamilton Health Sciences to cut 400 jobs amid Ontario budget mandates

Hamilton Health Sciences is planning to eliminate more than 400 union and non-union positions to address a projected $150 million deficit for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The hospital network attributed the decision to provincial mandates requiring hospitals operating in the red to implement three-year plans to balance budgets.

According to an internal memo from President and CEO Tracey MacArthur, the cuts include approximately 143 nursing positions and 84 healthcare aide positions. However, the network noted that about one-third of these roles are currently vacant, meaning few existing employees may lose their jobs. MacArthur stated that some staffing capacity established during the pandemic was intended for exceptional circumstances and is not supported by current funding levels.

The hospital has set savings targets of two per cent for clinical budgets and five per cent for administrative budgets. A spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones stated that these changes are not expected to impact patient services or access to care.