The CISSS des Iles anticipates a $6.3 million deficit in its 22-23 budget

Undermined by the rise in the use of independent labour, the Islands CISSS is anticipating an estimated deficit of $6.3 million in its 2022-2023 budget.

The document, which has not yet been presented in open session to the board of directors due to departmental deadlines, projects expenditures of more than $91 million and revenues of just under $85 million.

Administrative Services Director Claude Cyr says 90 per cent of the projected deficit is due to the use of agencies as well as increased salary insurance benefits.

Last year, more than 80,000 hours of work were provided by independent labor, the equivalent of 53 full-time employees.

By comparison, they represented less than 4,000 hours in 2017-2018.

According to the CEO of the CISSS des Iles, Sophie Doucet, it is essential to directly address the source of the problem to hope for a return to a balanced budget for the institution.

Attracting workers from remote areas, a limited provincial pool of candidates and access to housing were cited as recurring issues.

The organization also intends to focus on increasing attendance, as the number of hours paid in wage insurance has almost doubled in 2021-2022 compared to the previous three-year average.