TORONTO -- The organization that regulates midwives in Ontario says the provincial government has axed its funding, forcing it to consider cost-cutting measures of its own.

In a statement posted on its website, the College of Midwives of Ontario says it was recently advised that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care would no longer provide it with operational grants.

The college says it was told the decision is retroactive to April, which means the organization will not receive the funds it had expected for the current fiscal year.

The organization says it has received annual grants from the ministry for 25 years and the loss of this funding creates a "significant" budgetary shortfall.

The regulator says it will operate with a deficit until at least 2021, and will have to find efficiencies to cut costs. It will likely require higher fee payments from midwives as well, the statement says.

The college says there will be no impact on the public, however, as its work is mandated by law and it cannot cut its services and programs.

The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.