Ontario’s health minister isn’t ruling out privatization in health care as the government looks at ways to deal with a major staff shortage straining hospitals across the province.

Sylvia Jones said the government is considering many ideas in an effort to keep emergency departments from closing.

When asked if the government is considering privatization, Jones said “all options are on the table.”

“I’m saying that there is innovation and opportunities here in Ontario, and we will explore those,” she said at the legislature on Wednesday.

Emergency departments across Ontario have had to close for hours or days at a time this summer, which health-care officials say is due