For those considering Canada, read on...

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

as the financial crisis deepens in the us, canada is also feeling the pain. it was thought that we'd feel less impact because of differences in our methods and systems, but the truth is that we aren't immune to it at all. there were more than 129,000 jobs lost in canada in january alone. most of them were in the manufacturing sector, but not all.

hamilton-layoff notices go out next week to 250 staff as hamilton health sciences cuts $21 million from its budget.

the hospital has already axed 49 corporate jobs to save $4 million. it also plans to save cash by having fewer nurses per patient and less-skilled workers providing care.

st. joseph's healthcare, which has predicted 175 job cuts, will tell its staff feb. 2 its plans to reduce a $12 million deficit.

http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/575245

hospital unions projecting 5,000 job losses, serious cutbacks to patient care if mcguinty fails to address hospital underfunding

monday, january 12, 2009

toronto, jan. 12 /cnw/ - in a joint press conference this morning, leadership from four major hospital unions representing more than 80,000 hospital staff warned of large scale job losses and downsizing in ontario's hospitals. in a briefing note, the unions warned that underfunding at currently planned levels translates into a cutback of 5,000 full time jobs and more than 9 million hours of patient care. serious hospital cutbacks are threatened at hospitals of every size (small, medium and large) in every region of ontario.

"hospital downsizing is already resulting in longer waits for patients, user fees for patients, and loss of services," noted patty rout, vice president and treasurer of opseu.

http://www.seiulocal1.org/hospital_unions_projecting_5_000_job_losses__serious_cutbacks_to_patient_care_if_mcguinty_fails_to_address_hospital_underfunding.aspx

most of the nursing job losses have been in ontario, but that doesn't mean the rest of the country will be safe.

alberta health care to suffer as government tightens its belt

appointments raise concerns of privatization

jason fekete, calgary herald

published: friday, november 21, 2008

provincial health minister ron liepert warned albertans on thursday to gird for difficult decisions ahead on health care as the government grapples with what's likely to be reduced revenues next year and some tough-love budgeting.(...)

the board will also closely examine all health-care supplier contracts to ensure the province is getting value for money, he added, while staffing requirements will "continue to change" as the system evolves.

"there's going to have to be tighter belts," hughes said. "we are going to change the way we deliver health care in alberta."

http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=786a24ef-91c6-4e6d-a36b-af954b833708

it is entirely possible that the recruitment of iens will drop off sharply as the canadian employment picture worsens. while canada is not currently considering a moratorium on hiring nurses from abroad, it may reach that point. please be aware and prepared for it should it come to that. also consider the position of your spouse or other supporting person who will be job-seeking in canada who may now have severely limited possibilities. take nothing for granted. if you want it badly enough, you'll have to be willing to fight.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Thanks for the update Jan - sorry it is so sad. Here in the Midwest (IL), our three main hospitals all have a hiring freeze and many mid-level manager positions have been eliminated. We are also a manufacturing town (Caterpillar) and they are laying off 5000 people....it has been devastating to our area. And...they say the economy won't rebound for probably 10 years.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

It seems that things will only get worse here too. The economy in Alberta was always viewed as bulletproof, and we're finding out that it's far from it. Oil prices are the lowest they've been in many years and the oil companies are closing down fields, delaying drilling and holding off on exploration. There aren't really layoffs in the business because the companies don't actually have contracts with their workers that guarantee them anything. The pay is great... when there's work to be done. The trickle-down is huge too. Construction is stagnant, refineries and upgraders that were going to come online this year are sitting empty. Retailers are feeling the pinch. The only bright spot is the service industry. All of a sudden, McDonalds isn't hiring, they have enough staff again. And since much of our government revenue relies on the oil industry, there will be cuts coming in virutally every sector that receives anything from the government. There won't be any bailouts for Alberta though. There never have been.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Sorry to hear you are sharing economic difficulties. You don't want a bail out bill since it only aggravates the issue.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Our federal government IS bailing out the auto industry in Ontario to the tune of $3.3 billion and the horse racing industry in Quebec with promises of $25 million per year for 25 years. Horse racing? SAY WHAT?? But then money has been flowing east into Quebec for decades and that isn't going to change.

[Fiona59]

Hey, at least Ralphie is gone and isn't sending cash to that horse and buggy thing he enjoyed.

I'm just waiting for Ottawa to come up with an new NEP to hurt this province with.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

SHHHHHHH!! They'll hear you!

[redranger]

I was talking to my wife sister this Sunday, She lives in Toronto area.

We talked about the economy in her area and she said they are not feeling much of problem, nothing like some parts of the USA.

She has a pretty good handle on economy in her area, because she helps brings in Foreign Investors who want to open business in Canada.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Toronto is generally insulated from most economic downturns due to the nature of its own economy. There is little manufacturing that goes on in Toronto proper, and the banks and multinational headquarters found there protect their own while passing the pain on to their district offices, production facilities and suppliers. There is a great deal of foreign money in Toronto and not much of it actually stays in Canada. Since redranger's sister-in-law is involved in that foreign investment sector it's likely that she doesn't see the effects of the recession in her own neighbourhood.

[loriangel14, RN]

I just finished listening to a news report about the rising number of people turning to food banks and welfare lines in Toronto. They also gave stats about business closures and personal bankruptcy rates in the Toronto area. Toronto is feeling the down turn it appears.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

I think Redranger is a very lucky person not to be effected by the economic downturn on the US or Canadian Border.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

This was in today's news:

"The government is watching Canada's economy closely and won't hesitate, if necessary, to reduce the number of immigrants it lets into the country, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said yesterday..."

http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/canada/2009/02/11/8344556-sun.html