Premier Doug Ford is defending his government’s health-care record ahead of his eighth budget, even as the province’s hospitals say they face a billion-dollar structural funding deficit. That comes as the association that represents Ontario’s hospitals is warning that funding uncertainty is causing critical financial strain. Ford, who promised to end hallway health care in hospitals when he was elected in 2018, says the province’s population has grown since then, compounding the problem. He has stressed that his government has rolled out tens of billions in new spending on health care in that time. 'A downward spiral'A vice-president with the Canadian Emergency Physician Association said that organization is also watching Ontario’s budget process closely.

Source: CBC News March 09, 2026 15:45 UTC