Ford government lays off more than 400 workers at Ontario health agencies Wednesday

”We understand that our plan will impact individuals’ lives,” said Elliott.WATCH: NDP MPP Marit Stiles reacts to news Doug Ford’s Conservative government would hand out layoff notices to 416 employees

1:50 NDP react to Ford government’s plan to eliminate healthcare jobs

The government projects the change will save $350 million a year by 2021-22, and a senior official said recently that $250 million will be saved this year.“That’s why we have asked agencies to responsibly avoid filling vacant positions and accept early retirements to minimize the impact of the reorganization into Ontario Health,” said Elliott.“We are eliminating duplicative administration and redirecting those savings to direct patient care. We can all agree that funding front-line services instead of duplicated administration will do more good for Ontarians and is a far better use of health-care dollars.”

The NDP disagreed with Elliott’s and the government’s announcement and issued a statement saying the cuts will end up affecting patients.

“Health care in Ontario was left hanging by a thread by Kathleen Wynne and the Liberals, and Doug Ford is now cutting the thread,” said Stiles. “That leaves us all worried that the hallway medicine crisis, the long waits, and the troubles in Ontario’s health care system are going to go from bad to worse.”

OPSEU President Smokey Thomas said the announcement is just another “promise betrayed.”

WATCH: Former Ontario health ministers speak out about proposed cuts (May 23, 2019)

2:02 Former Ontario health ministers speak out about proposed cuts

“Ford promised no job losses, but it’s becoming clearer by the day that he never had a real plan. He’s running a government by chaos and the people of Ontario are paying the price. Ford won based on lofty promises to reign in the deficit without any consequence for frontline jobs and services – he’s now proven himself incompetent on both ends,” Thomas said in a statement.

“Every single one of these jobs matters. These workers are all part of an interconnected team that provides high-quality, patient-centred care; they’re not just numbers or potential “efficiencies” to be cut.”

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Elliott said right now, the province has a large network of provincial agencies that has created confusion for patients and providers. She believes the reorganization and elimination of positions will ultimately direct more funds to direct patient care.