Hundreds of Ontario nurses being laid off

Hundreds of nursing positions are quietly being cut across Ontario as hospitals are looking to trim their budgets, CTV Toronto has learned.

More than 250 nurses will be laid off in communities across the province, including Newmarket, Sarnia and London.

Ontario Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins says hospitals typically make staffing decisions based on their budget. He says, however, that more nurses will be funnelled into community care rather than being laid off.

"There's a normal sort of ebb and flow where there will be small numbers that will perhaps be laid off; others are hired," Hoskins told CTV Toronto on Thursday. He adds that there are 24,000 more nurses working in the province than in 2003, when the Ontario Liberals first came to power.

The move, however, has the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario shaking its head. The group says the best way for hospitals to save money is to get patients home sooner, and registered nurses can help do that.

"It's absurd at a time where you want to actually produce better care for patients, better outcomes for patients and for budgets," CEO of the RNAO Doris Grinspun said.

As the nursing cuts are made across the province, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says it's time to start shifting patient care out of hospitals.

"There are decisions that are being made in terms of changing the health-care system -- putting more support into the community. That means there are changes to staffing models," she told reporters.

Ontario New Democratic MPP Peter Tabuns warns, however, that more cuts could be on the way as the provincial budget is set to be unveiled in the coming weeks.

"There are reductions in healthcare. Health-care budgets have been frozen for hospitals for the last three years and as we all know, prices go up and if your budget is frozen you have to cut the services you provide," Tabuns said.

"That's the reality that we are seeing in Ontario."

With a report from CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss