Ontario Health Minister Sylvie Jones said its necessary for struggling hospitals like North Bay Regional Health Centre to balance budgets.<\/p>\n
Published Nov 27, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 4\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
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Health Minister Sylvie Jones defends the necessity of layoffs at North Bay’s hospital during question period on Nov. 27, 2025 Photo by SCREENSHOT\/Ontario Legislative AssemblyArticle content<\/p>\n
Ontario Health Minister Sylvie Jones said the 40 jobs cut at the North Bay Regional Health Centre are \u201ccompletely appropriate,\u201d during question period at Queen\u2019s Park on Thursday. Adding that \u201cnot only is it appropriate, but it is necessary\u201d for the government to ensure hospitals \u201chave a path to (fiscal) balance.\u201d<\/p>\n
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NDP Health Critic France G\u00e9linas and Labour Critic Jamie West both asked the government about the layoffs on Thursday morning, with G\u00e9linas blaming the job losses in North Bay \u2014 which included 13 registered nurses, three registered practical nurses, and an occupational therapist \u2014 on inadequate provincial funding.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSeventy-two per cent of northern Ontario hospitals are facing a deficit. They tried every efficiency possible, but they are left with no choice but to cut programs and lay off staff,\u201d said G\u00e9linas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese front-line health care workers offer their services throughout the hospital, from in-patient services to the emergency department, which averages 12 hours of wait time. What is the Minister doing to protect access to hospital services for the good people of North Bay?\u201d<\/p>\n
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Jones responded by insisting that \u201cthere is no \u2014 and I repeat \u2014 no change in the actual hospital services provided.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also said that, earlier this year, the government has instructed the North Bay Regional Health Centre and other struggling hospitals to send in three-year plans showing how they intend to balance their budgets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat our hospital partners are doing is completely appropriate, and something they do on a regular basis, and that is to assess, review their operations, to make sure that they are providing the appropriate care in their communities, and making sure that those front-line providers are there when the communities need it,\u201d said the health minister.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only is it appropriate, but it is necessary for us to work with our hospital partners to make sure that they have a path to balance.\u201d<\/p>\n
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West noted that during a visit to North Bay two weeks ago, he and G\u00e9linas recently met with laid-off health care workers in North Bay and accused the PC government of ignoring them.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody from the Conservative bench will even speak with them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Jones countered that the province has already provided increased funding to the North Bay hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope when the members opposite visited the North Bay Regional Health Centre, they also highlighted the fact that, for the last three years, we have increased hospitals\u2019 base budgets by an average of four per cent. I\u2019m guessing the answer is you forgot that very salient point,\u201d said the health Minister.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been there for hospitals, and we will continue to be there for hospitals.\u201d<\/p>\n
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When asked for comment, local PC MPP Vic Fedeli\u2019s office also highlighted the amount of money the government has already provided the North Bay hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince 2020, annual funding for the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) has grown by $49.3 million \u2014 representing a nearly 20 per cent increase.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fedeli\u2019s office also argued that it is \u201cthanks to these significant, patient-focused investments\u201d that the hospital\u2019s \u201cplanning changes will not affect patient care or access to services in North Bay.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur government understands how important local hospital services are to families and communities across Ontario. That is why hospitals are required to plan in a way that ensures patients continue to receive high-quality care today and for generations to come,\u201d said Fedeli in a statement.<\/p>\n
Next week, the CUPE local in North Bay is hosting an open house about the ongoing hospital situation, and both Gelinas and West will be in attendance.<\/p>\n
That takes place at the Davedi Club on Tuesday beginning at 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
The North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) serves as a catchment area for over 180,000 people in northeastern Ontario, including the Nipissing District and the surrounding region.<\/p>\n
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