Doug Ford and his counterparts in Atlantic Canada are meeting for a summit on the country’s struggling health care system.

“Doing the same over and over gain, throwing billions of dollars at a solution and keeping the status quo is just not working,” Ford told reporters. “We also need the partners from the healthcare sector and every single CEO I’ve talked to from the largest hospitals in this country, talking to doctors, talking to nurses, the status quo is not working folks.”

Ford called the talks productive and said for Ontario, healthcare is the number one priority.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs says the discussions were sometimes spirited. Ford’s visit to the Maritimes comes as Ontario’s health system has been strained by staff shortages in recent weeks. Some emergency rooms have been forced to close for hours or even days at a time.

The hospital in St. Mary’s southwest of Stratford is reducing its emergency room hours again. It’s to close this afternoon at 5 p.m. then scheduled to be open between 7a.m. and 5 p.m. the rest of the work week resuming regular 24-hour service Saturday.