Ontario NDP calls for hospital funding reform after deficits revealed

Ontario hospitals collectively incurred over half a billion dollars in operating deficits last year, despite a legal requirement to balance their books. The Ontario NDP is demanding urgent changes to hospital funding, citing reports that some hospitals are resorting to bank loans to cover operational costs and make payroll. This situation arises amid a significantly reduced provincial health sector funding increase and concerns that current funding levels are insufficient to maintain existing hospital services.