MEDIA ADVISORY: New report shows hospital spending on for-profit agencies shot up by 216% in North East region over 10 years: media conference in North Bay tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Event Information

Begins: 21 May 2025
Location: North Bay, ON

NORTH BAY, 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 province.

In rural and northern regions – where shortages are often most severe – agency costs jumped. For instance, agency costs increased by 216 per cent in the North East region of Ontario, which includes North Bay.

On Wednesday morning, Andrew Longhurst, will reveal more data for the North East health region including hospital spending increases on agency staff relative to employed staff.

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

WHEN:
10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21

WHERE:
North Bay Public Library – 271 Worthington St E, North Bay, ON – Boardroom

WHAT:
Media conference to release findings of new CCPA 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), representing 50,000 Ontario hospital and long-term care employees.

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For more information, please contact:

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