A confidential document says Toronto is looking at privatizing its ski hills and a campground in a effort to cut costs.

There was no mention of the proposal in this year's proposed budget.

CUPE Local 79 president Ann Dembinski said she didn't find out about the plan until late Friday.

"It came as an absolute shock to us and we tried to track down what was happening," said Dembinski. She says it could mean significant job losses, if the idea is carried through.

At present Toronto operates two ski hills. One at Earl Bales Park in North York, the other at Centennial Park in Etobicoke. The city also runs a campground in Scarborough. All three lose money.

The proposal, hidden in a confidential document, is to cut jobs and costs by privatizing the ski hills and campground. The report says it could save the city between $500,00 and $700,000 per year.

The union says as many as 360 part-time jobs could be affected. The city says the number is much lower.

Coun. Joe Mihevc, part of the city's budget committee, denies the proposal was hidden. He says the idea was kept private "because it does have human resources implication and those implications are by definition confidential."

Parts that are available say the plan is for the city to retain ownership of the properties but lease out the site to private operators, in much the same way as it now leases out its five golf courses.

City council will make the final decision when it votes on the 2010 operating budget in April.