MEDIA ADVISORY: New report shows hospital spending on for-profit agencies shot up in Ontario’s Central East Region over 10-year period

Event Information

Begins: 15 May 2025
Location: Peterborough, ON

CCPA research study exploring the intersection of hospital underfunding and higher spending on private staffing agencies to be released on Thursday morning in Peterborough

PETERBOROUGH, ON –(COMMUNITYWIRE)– The staffing crisis stemming from chronic underfunding of Ontario’s hospitals has fueled a dramatic growth in the usage of for-profit staffing agencies to the tune of $9.2 billion, according to a new research study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

Drawing on data obtained from multiple sources including Ontario hospitals’ financial documents, Hollowed Out: Ontario public hospitals and the rise of private staffing agencies takes a deep dive into the intersection between insufficient hospital funding and the proliferation of staffing agencies across the 14 regions of the province.

On Thursday morning, Andrew Longhurst, will reveal hospital spending increases on agency staff relative to employed staff for the Central East region, which includes Peterborough County.

Longhurst will be joined by Michael Hurley, the president of CUPE’s hospital division, to reveal detailed findings from the in-depth research report as well as recommendations to address the hospital staffing crisis.

WHEN:
10 a.m. on Thursday, May 15

WHERE:
Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St N, Peterborough, ON

WHAT:
Media conference to release findings of new research report

WHO:
Andrew Longhurst, research associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and author of the new report.
Michael Hurley, president, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, OCHU/CUPE since 1990 representing 50,000 Ontario hospital employees.

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For more information, please contact:

Zee Noorsumar, CUPE Communications
znoorsumar@cupe.ca
647-995-9859