Canada

Several Ontario hospitals have announced job cuts in recent months as they try to climb out of financial holes, a situation critics say will likely keep repeating.

While the government gave hospitals a $1.1-billion funding boost this year, the Ontario Hospital Association had said the need was more than double that. More than 70 per cent of hospitals are forecasting deficits and some are using their reserves to fund operating expenses.

The most recent announcement of cuts came earlier this month from The Ottawa Hospital, which said that in order to address financial challenges it has already offered early retirement, cut vacant positions, frozen travel and found a "more economical" benefits plan.

"Despite all of this, regrettably there will still be some reductions to job positions in the coming months," the hospital wrote in a statement.