Media Advisory - Ontario Nurses' Association to Reveal Shocking Extent of Cuts to Nurses and Health-care Professionals

TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) will reveal shocking new data on the extent of the cuts to registered nurses (RNs) and health-care professionals across the province at a Queen's Park press conference tomorrow.

"Every day, hospital CEOs and the Ford government continue to slash RN and health-care worker positions, amounting to a staggering loss of skilled front-line care in our public health-care system," says ONA Provincial President Erin Ariss, RN. "Ontarians are left without the level of care they need when their lives are on the line, and we are already hearing about the impacts this is having on nurses and their patients."

Ariss will be joined at Queen's Park tomorrow by NDP Health Critic France Gelinas, ONA representative from London Health Sciences Centre Lindsay Carnahan, RN, and Executive Director of the Ontario Health Coalition Natalie Mehra. Ariss will share new information about the loss of registered nurse and health-care professional positions in 2025 and 2026 and the implications for patient safety.

"The mounting cuts to nurses and health-care professionals is one reason that ONA has repeatedly called for safe staffing ratios, as other jurisdictions have been increasingly implementing," says Ariss. "Patient care is being compromised and the numbers don't lie: they make it clear action must be taken now to keep patients safe."

WHAT:	Media conference to reveal nurse/health-care professional hours cut in Ontario
WHO:	ONA Provincial President Erin Ariss, RN, ONA Bargaining Unit President Lindsay Carnahan, RN, NDP Health Critic France Gelinas, Ontario Health Coalition Executive Director Natalie Mehra
WHEN:	9 a.m., Wednesday, October 28, 2026
WHERE:	Queen's Park Media Studio, Toronto

ONA is the union representing 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.

SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association

To arrange a media interview: [email protected]