Ottawa Hospital Cuts Involuntary Layoffs to 17, Down From 400 The Ottawa Hospital reduces involuntary job cuts to 17, or 0.15% of its workforce, after initially planning to cut 400 positions earlier this year. The Ottawa Hospital has significantly reduced the number of involuntary job cuts, announcing that only 17 employees will be laid off involuntarily, or 0.15 per cent of its overall workforce. This comes after the hospital initially announced in April that it would be cutting three per cent of its workforce, approximately 400 positions, to address budget pressures. The hospital is one of the region's largest employers, with 13,281 employees as of its 2024-25 annual report. Reduction in Involuntary DeparturesHospital spokesperson Michaela Schreiter said the reduction was achieved through vacancy management and early retirement options. The hospital had implemented a series of measures to find savings and reduce budget pressures. Initially, the cuts were expected to affect about 400 positions, but the final number of involuntary departures was limited to 17. Schreiter noted that the hospital worked to minimize the impact on staff.Background on Budget ChallengesIn April, The Ottawa Hospital told CTV News that it had been working with the Ontario government to address the financial challenges facing the health-care sector. The hospital operates three main campuses across Ottawa: the General Campus, the Civic Campus, and the Riverside Campus. It employs 5,200 nurses, 1,724 physicians, and 1,186 resident physicians, making it a major employer in the region.Other Hospitals Also Cutting JobsOther hospitals in the region have also announced job cuts this year. In July, the Queensway Carleton Hospital announced it would cut 119 positions, including 87 registered nursing jobs, as part of a plan to trim one per cent of its workforce to address financial pressures. Bruyère Health said 46 personal care attendants and nine registered practice nurse positions would go through a redeployment process. Bruyère Health stated that the redeployment process includes reassignment and transfer, canvassing for voluntary departures, and potential layoffs, following structured processes defined in the collective agreement.