The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa

The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa will keep you up-to-date about issues that we are addressing during our lobbying initiatives. It is the intention of the PPAO to deliver positive, cooperative and supportive political messages to the Mayor and Council. We respect that the City of Ottawa has asked that we keep with our best traditions and engage in responsible and respectful debates. It is the objective of the PPAO to work together with Council in an effort to enhance patient care and make Ottawa the best city in Canada. All updates in the Politics section will provide you with detailed information about our monthly initiatives. NOTE: The paramedic association is not a labour union.

Honouring Men And Women Who Save Lives
McGuinty Government To Create Award For Paramedic Bravery
June 1, 2011 2:00 PM

Ontario is creating an award to honour paramedics who have performed an act of exceptional bravery.

The Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery will be presented annually in cases where an Ontario paramedic has clearly demonstrated bravery in the course of his or her job or while off duty.

Paramedics play a critical role in saving lives and protecting our families - often putting their own lives at risk to protect the lives of others.

Over 7,000 paramedics across the province work in uncontrolled settings where life threatening emergencies occur at any time of day or night.

SUPPORT: "Paramedics go above and beyond in the service of others every day across Ontario. They are key players in our first line of response along with police and firefighters - saving lives and protecting Ontario families. This award will recognize those paramedics who display extraordinary courage." – Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

SUPPORT: "I would like to personally thank each and every one of Ontario's paramedics for their tireless dedication. These brave men and women help thousands of Ontarians during their greatest times of need. Our government is privileged to work with all of our health care professionals, including paramedics, and this award recognizes the selfless contributions they to make to Ontarians." – Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

Ottawa Paramedics,

Paul Patterson, a Chatham-Kent Paramedic was killed in the line of duty on Sunday, February 25th 2007 while responding to a motor vehicle collision near Blenheim, Ontario.

Bill 115, a private members bill to create an Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery has been introduced. A petition has been circulating around Ontario to support the bill and paramedics across Ontario need to act before it becomes dead in the water.

The following update has been put together by one of the Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa’s legal assistants:

Your MPP needs to hear from you if we have any chance of passing this important bill. You can find out who your MPP is, in less than 10 seconds, at this website: http://fyed.elections.on.ca/fyed/en/form_page_en.jsp

Paramedics need to act now. Please notify your MPP that you support this bill by sending the following text (see next section).

“Whereas Paramedics play a vital role in protecting the health and safety of Ontarians; and

“Whereas Paramedics often put their own health and safety at risk, going above and beyond their duty in servicing Ontarians; and

“Whereas the Government of Ontario annually recognizes Police Officers and Firefighters with awards for Bravery; and

“Whereas currently, no Award for Paramedic Bravery is awarded by the Government of Ontario; and

“Whereas, Ontario Paramedics deserve recognition for acts of exceptional bravery while protecting Ontarians;

“Enact Bill 115, a private member’s bill introduced by MPP Maria Van Bommel on October 6, 2010, an act to provide for the Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery.”

Thank you for your support. As the MPP who put forward the Bill I appreciate such strong backing from so many people.

I would like to suggest that this information be given to all MPPs in the Ottawa area. It is important that they also understand the strength of the support that this Bill has.

Good morning Mr. Wilton,

Thank you for your email to MPP MacLeod. I am confirming receipt of your correspondence and please be assured I have printed your email off for MPP MacLeod’s review.

Kindest regards,

Megan Boyle
Chief of Staff
Office of Lisa MacLeod, M.P.P.
Nepean - Carleton

Tel: 416-325-6351
Email: megan.boyle@pc.ola.org

Visit us at: www.lisamacleod.com
Drop by our new Constituency Office located at 3500 Fallowfield Road, Unit 10, Nepean ON

Thank you for your online message regarding Bill 115, the Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery Act, 2010. I am grateful to you for taking the time to share your views and those of your members.

I fully recognize how hard health care professionals — including paramedics — work and how intensely committed you are to your patients and your profession. Ontarians turn to you, often at the most critical times in their lives, and you never fail to provide care with professionalism, skill and compassion. Our government feels privileged to work with our health care professionals — the dedicated women and men who choose health care not merely as a career but as a calling — to strengthen and improve health services in Ontario.

Our government remains committed to supporting the paramedic teams across Ontario to enable them to deliver top-quality services. That is why we introduced vital initiatives such as a true 50-50 partnership with municipalities for land ambulance services.

As you know, Bill 115 passed Second Reading last October and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy for further discussion and review. Should you wish to engage in the committee process, you may wish to contact the Clerk of the Committee in the Committees Branch at 99 Wellesley Street West, Room 1405, Whitney Block, Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A2; telephone 416-325-3500.

Thanks again for contacting me. Please accept my best wishes.

Dalton McGuinty
Premier of Ontario

Thank you for your letter regarding the passage of Bill 115, the Ontario Award from Paramedic Bravery. I share your elation at the passage of this important piece of legislation!

Paramedics are an integral component of Ontario’s health care system. This is a challenging, and at times stressful profession, that I have no doubt brings much reward and satisfaction to the many men and women who take on this important role every day. Everyday, paramedics in our community make the courageous decision to risk their lives to protect the health and safety of our community.

The Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery is a wonderful way that we can honour the commitment paramedics make every day, and celebrates the exceptional bravery they demonstrate while in the line of duty. I look forward to the inaugural presentations of this Award, and welcome the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our local heroes.

Once again, thank you for writing. Please do not hesitate to contact me at my Community Office at any time to share your thoughts and concerns. I look forward to hearing from you.

January 4, 2010 Roch Davidson
Policy Specialist
Policy Development Directorate
L'Esplande Laurier Building, West Tower
300 Laurier Ave West
Ottawa, ON K1A 0M7
Telephone: 613-943-2787
Fax: 613-943-2481
Email: Roch.Davidson@psc-cfp.gc.ca

We are writing you in regards to the proposed amendments to the Public Service Employment Regulations (PSER) outlined in the December 5th, 2009 issue of the Canada Gazette; Part 1. While reviewing the proposed amendments and the original PSER, two (2) issues became apparent that we would like clarification on relating to the proposed amendments to Section 8 of the PSER. (Appendix 1)

There are two (2) issues that we would like to address: the definition of "a person employed in the public service" and proposed inclusion of "individuals employed with a Public Safety Occupation (as defined in the Income Tax Regulations)”. (Appendix 2)

In regards to the definition of "a person employed in the public service", upon reviewing the original PSER and the amended version, we were unable to find a definition anywhere. The reference is understood, but we recommend a more accurate definition.

We would like to propose the inclusion of "individuals employed with a Public Safety Occupation (as defined in the Income Tax Regulations)" to the above list. Government officials have recently released media statements supporting the aforementioned amendment because of the invaluable and devoted service the men and woman of Canada's Armed Forces and the RCMP provide to this nation. We wholeheartedly support this statement and any legislation or regulation that supports these individuals.

With this in mind, it cannot be forgotten that the men and women employed within Canada's Public Safety Occupations also provide an invaluable service to both the Canadian and international public. At home and abroad, the men and women of Canada's Public Safety Occupations respond to people in need without exception. Regardless of circumstance, time of day, weather, or danger, these men and women continually provide world-class care and response to all persons.

Yet if tragedy strikes, and one of these men or women are killed in the line of duty, there are no long-term measures in place to help protect the families they leave behind.

It is for these reasons that the Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa strongly recommends the inclusion of " individuals employed with a Public Safety Occupation (as defined in the Income Tax Regulations)" to proposed amendment 5 (five) of the PSER.

We appreciate you taking the time to address our concerns. Thank you in advance,

Andrew Whyte, Primary Care Paramedic
Interim Director
Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa
300 March Road (4th Floor)
Ottawa, ON K2K2E2
(613) 244-0333
mail@ottawaparamedics.ca
www.OttawaParamedics.ca

Darryl Wilton, Advanced Care Paramedic
President
Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa
300 March Road (4th Floor)
Ottawa, ON K2K2E2
(613) 244-0333 ext 1
president@ottawaparamedics.ca
www.OttawaParamedics.ca

The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa (PPAO) is not a labour union. We are responsible for promoting the practice of Paramedicine and ensuring the highest level of care for our patients. We are leaders in the advancement of Paramedicine and achieve our objectives through public awareness, research and education. We lobby for self-regulation under the Regulated Health Care Professionals Act. We also assist in fundraising for community-based charities. The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa is a proud chapter of the Ontario Paramedic Association and the Paramedic Association of Canada.

Over the last 2 years, Telehealth has engaged in a number of television advertising campaigns that could have a detrimental impact on emergency patient care.

The Ministry of Health continues to release provincial TV advertisements that are suggestive of having people dial Telehealth for life threatening emergencies. The limited scope of Telehealth is not accurately represented in television commercials. As a result, patients are being misinformed and placed at significant risk.

Some of the examples that have been utilized in the Telehealth media campaign are inappropriate in that a call to Telehealth would be counter-intuitive to the need for time-sensitive emergency medical interventions and procedures that should be administered by paramedics via 9-1-1.

Some examples of time sensitive medical emergencies inaccurately referenced on Telehealth commercials are as follows:

The limited scope of Telehealth is not accurately represented in television commercials. As a result, patients are being misinformed and placed at significant risk.

We kindly ask that you please put a stop to the campaign and choose to engage in advertising that is truthfully indicative of the services that are regularly and safely provided by Telehealth.

Darryl Wilton, Advanced Care Paramedic
President
Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa
300 March Road (4th Floor)
Ottawa, ON K2K 2E2
(613) 244-0333 ext 1
president@ottawaparamedics.ca
www.OttawaParamedics.ca

This award, if it receives Royal Accent, will be similar to the ones currently bestowed to Fire Fighters and Police Officers in the Province of Ontario . Maria Van Bommell, MPP was introduced to this idea after the Line of Duty Death of PCP Paul Patterson in February 2007 while responding to a call while working for Sun Parlour Emergency Services, Chatham-Kent. MPP Van Bommel along with MPP Crozier and MPP Hoy were contacted in regards to the Provincial recognition and with the assistance of Paul Patterson's parents, Wayne and Clare, and his family, MPP Van Bommel has introduced Bill 136 to the Legislative Assembly.

On behalf of MPP Maria Van Bommel and Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, all paramedics in the Province of Ontario are invited to attend Queens Parks on February 19, 2008 when Bill 136 will receive Second Reading. There is no set time, as of this date, but these are usually read in the afternoon. Further information, as it becomes available, will be posted on http://www.sunparlourchatham-kent.com/paul_patterson.htm. It is requested from MPP Maria Van Bommell and the Patterson family that those attending wear their dress uniforms or duty uniforms while attending this very important day.

All paramedics and their families are welcome to contact their local MPP and voice their acceptance of Bill 136, Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery Act, 2008, so that it may proceed directly to Royal Accent. This would be a monumental day for the past, present and future, proud and dedicated, paramedics of this wonderful Province of Ontario.

For further information, please visit the website http://www.sunparlourchatham-kent.com/paul_patterson.htm or contact bkrauter@sunparlourchatham-kent.com if your service is available to attend

Bruce Krauter, Operations Manager
Sun Parlour Emergency Services Inc. Chatham-Kent
337 Richmond Street
Chatham, On
N7M 2P5
519-380-0793 ext 12 Office
519-380-5394 Cell
519-380-9327 Fax
www.sunparlourchatham-kent.com

Every paramedic in Ontario should be interested in going to the OMERS vote in Toronto (Thursday June 05, 2008).

If you enjoy working as a paramedic but don't want to do it forever, this is one of those events that your whole life should stop for. If you were going to be one place during your career, you should be in Toronto at the OMERS vote on June 05.

Canadian data states that 96% of paramedics do not even make it to age 55. Hence, early retirement benefits (and increased contribution rates) with no penalty are very important to our profession.

The Paramedic Association of Canada in coordination with CUPE successfully lobbied for changes to the Federal Income Tax act that won paramedics the right to retire early alongside police officers and fire fighters.

Even though we won this entitlement in the Federal Income Tax Act, the provincial government and OMERS ignored paramedics while giving this benefit only to police officers and firefighters.

We will not have this chance next week, or next year. This event will happen once in 3 years. The next opportunity we will have to catch a bullet with our teeth will be in 2011.

I hope that helps you to understand why it will be so important to be in Toronto on Thursday June 05.

I will gladly coordinate a 15 passenger van or bus rental (depending on numbers) from Ottawa. After all, many members of the PPAO were present alongside the Paramedic Association of Canada and CUPE when we successfully lobbied on Parliament Hill back in 2003.

I will be taking a $20 deposit from each person to confirm your seat. Yah yah I know big money - who could afford twenty bucks?

Don’t have the time? One day of your life could get you 5 years earlier retirement with no penalty.

Darryl Wilton, Advanced Care Paramedic
President
Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa
300 March Road (4th Floor)
Ottawa, ON K2K 2E2
(613) 244-0333 ext 1
president@ottawaparamedics.ca
www.OttawaParamedics.ca

A few months back, I submitted a request to the Federal Government to draft a Private Members Bill to make it an Indictable Criminal Offence for a Paramedic to be assaulted while on duty. I also requested the Ontario Paramedic Association and Paramedic Association of Canada initiate a nation-wide lobby initiative and wrote a petitioning letter that paramedics across Canada could sign and distribute to their respective MP's.

Since then, many paramedics responded and contacted their MP's. Many paramedics sent me copies of their letters and I have also followed up with a number of MP's in the Ottawa region. I also made sure to follow up with MP Mario Silva who was responsible for drafting the first piece of legislation on behalf of Fire Fighters across Canada and he agreed to draft a sister bill for paramedics. Periodic updates have been posted on the www.OttawaParamedics.ca website.

I just received information from MP Mario Silva's office that he has already introduced a private members bill into Parliament that has been designated Bill C-495. If made into law, this bill will make it an Indictable Criminal Offence to assault a paramedic who is on duty. As defined by Canadian Law, an Indictable Criminal Offence in Canada is an offence which, is more serious than those which can proceed by summary conviction. It is the Canadian equivalent to the USA felony. Murder and treason are examples of crimes committed in Canada which would be indictable offences. These crimes are usually tried by federally-appointed judges and carry heavy sentences.

You should all be very proud this national initiative was started right here in Ottawa. Please remember to send MP Mario Silva (http://www.mariosilva.ca/ or silva.m@parl.gc.ca) or your own MP a thank-you and feel free to elaborate on why this bill is important to you as it still has a long way to go before it might become law.

Below is a copy of the newly drafted Bill which just went to first reading in Parliament today (Dec 12, 2007).

Darryl Wilton, Advanced Care Paramedic
President
Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa
300 March Road (4th Floor)
Ottawa, ON K2K 2E2
(613) 244-0333 ext 1
president@ottawaparamedics.ca
www.OttawaParamedics.ca

C-495
Second Session, Thirty-ninth Parliament,
56 Elizabeth II, 2007
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-495
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (emergency medical services workers)

The purpose of this enactment is to give greater protection to emergency medical services workers under the Criminal Code.

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1. Section 2 of the Criminal Code is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:
“emergency medical services worker” means any person who works as an emergency medical responder or as a primary, advanced or critical care paramedic and who is employed in, or appointed or assigned to, an ambulance service or other emergency medical service;

2. Subsection 231(4) of the Act is amended by striking out the word “or” at the end of paragraph (b), by adding the word “or” at the end of paragraph (c) and by adding the following after paragraph (c):

(d) an emergency medical services worker acting in the course of his or her duties.

(1.1) Every one commits an aggravated assault who wounds, maims, disfigures or endangers the life of an emergency medical services worker acting in the course of his or her duties.

(2) Every one who commits an aggravated assault under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.

(2.1) Every one who commits an aggravated assault under subsection (1.1) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years.

(a) assaults a public officer, peace officer or emergency medical services worker engaged in the execution of his or her duty, or a person acting in aid of such an officer or worker;

5. Section 433 of the Act is amended by striking out the word “or” at the end of paragraph (a), by adding the word “or” at the end of paragraph (b) and by adding the following after paragraph (b):

(c) the fire or explosion causes death or bodily harm to an emergency medical services worker who is acting in response to the fire or explosion.

Attention Paramedics,

Have you ever been assaulted on the job? You can affect change in less than 30 seconds.

Please contact your MP immediately if you would like it to be a criminal offence to assault an on-duty paramedic.

If you do not know who your Member of Parliament is, it is quick, easy and painless to find out. All you need to do is enter your postal code at the following link and PRESTO, the website will tell you. If there is more than one MP serving your postal code area, it might take you more than 10 seconds to find out but it will still be relatively painless.

What do I communicate to my MP?

Just send a quick email explaining that you want them to support the new private members bill that will be introduced this fall that makes it a criminal offence to assault paramedics while on duty. Make sure you provide your contact information and the fact that you are a paramedic.

If you would like to discuss this issue in detail with your MP, ask for a constituency meeting.

Darryl Wilton, Advanced Care Paramedic
President
Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa
300 March Road (4th Floor)
Ottawa, ON K2K 2E2
(613) 244-0333 ext 1
president@ottawaparamedics.ca
www.OttawaParamedics.ca

2007-08-08 - RECEIVED FROM MP MARIO SILVA AND SENT OUT TO PARAMEDICS ACROSS CANADA

To Canada's Paramedics,

As many of you know, I am currently drafting legislation that would make it a criminal offence to assault any paramedic while he or she is on duty. Currently, it is an offence to assault a police officer while he is on duty, and my new Private Member’s Bill will, if passed by Parliament, extend these provisions to paramedics as well. You should know that I also have a Private Member’s Bill that will extend these provisions to firefighters.

Due to a number of parliamentary rules, the only way this bill will become law is if we can get the unanimous consent of all Members of Parliament. As such, it is vital that we take the time to speak with the individual MPs and Political Parties represented in Parliament to ensure that the bill is worded in such a way that they will be able to support our bill.

When the House of Commons resumes sitting we will begin this process. At that time we will be asking for your support in contacting your local Member of Parliament to make sure they understand the importance of passing this legislation in law.

The best manner in which to lobby your Member of Parliament is simply to ensure they understand your need for this kind of legislated protection and that it is certainly in the best public interest that this bill becomes law. In approaching them simply convey your strong support for the bill and ask them to support it when it is voted upon in the House of Commons.

We have begun at the process that will hopefully see this bill become law and while there will undoubtedly be some obstacles in our path, I am confident that working together we can see this bill passed by Parliament. Together we can ensure that paramedics receive the protection they both need and deserve under law.

Sincerely,
Mario Silva
Official Opposition Critic for Labour Issues
Member of Parliament for Davenport

It has come to our attention that you introduced an amendment to the Criminal Code via Bill C-400 to include firefighters. We understand that at present time it is too late to amend the language in Bill C-400.

I am therefore submitting a formal request to introduce an equivalent Bill to C-400 that will include the courageous men and women who provide Emergency Medical Services across Canada.

The correct terminology specifically defining these individuals in the province of Ontario is "paramedics" or "emergency medical attendants".

Thank-you very much for your assistance and please keep me posted on the progress of amending Bill C-400 to include paramedics.

Darryl Wilton, Advanced Care Paramedic
President
Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa
300 March Road (4th Floor)
Ottawa, ON K2K 2E2
(613) 244-0333 ext 1
president@ottawaparamedics.ca
www.OttawaParamedics.ca

Pierre Poilievre
Member of Parliament
Nepean-Carleton
250-B Greenbank Road, 2nd Level
Nepean, ON K2H 8X4

It has come to our attention that MP Mario Silva introduced an amendment to the Criminal Code via Bill C-400 to include firefighters but paramedics were overlooked in the process. We understand that at present time it is too late to amend the language in Bill C-400 to include paramedics.

As a member of your constituency, I am submitting a formal request to introduce an equivalent Bill to C-400 that will include the courageous men and women who provide Emergency Medical Services across Canada.

The correct terminology specifically defining these individuals according to the Paramedic Association of Canada is "paramedics".

Thank-you very much for your assistance and please keep me posted on the progress of amending Bill C-400 to include paramedics.

Darryl Wilton, Advanced Care Paramedic
President
Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa
300 March Road (4th Floor)
Ottawa, ON K2K 2E2
(613) 244-0333 ext 1
president@ottawaparamedics.ca
www.OttawaParamedics.ca

2005-02-24 - Public Safety Occupation with Early Retirement is HERE!

VERY IMPORTANT PPAO NEWS ALERT!!!

Paramedics awarded PSO (Public Safety Occupation) inclusion in new federal budget!

That means we have been given the green light federally to start negotiating early retirement into our local collective agreements and pension plans! We are keeping our fingers crossed until the budget is officially passed in Parliament.

See the NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE in your MEMBERS area for detailed background info from the DEC-JAN newsletter.

This is an enormous federal win for paramedics! Of your $130 PPAO (Professional Paramedic Association of Canada) annual dues, $10 is spent on PAC (Paramedic Association of Canada) initiatives. Thank-you for supporting the paramedic association at the local, provincial and national levels.

After three years of Lobbying Federal Members of Parliament we were finally able to have our profession included in the list of "Public Safety Occupations". This is the same designation that allows Police Officers and Fire Fighters to get early, unreduced retirement benefits.

Today's budget included a page which: 1) adds the word "Paramedic" to the list of occupations considered a "Public Safety Occupation" as well as 2) giving all PSOs the ability to have an even higher pension accrual rate than they were able to get prior to this (icing on the cake)!

You can read page 370 of today's Federal Budget by clicking here or you can download the entire budget document by clicking here (1.3 MB). For more specific details regarding the whole lobbying process that led to this click here.

This is a huge win for paramedics across Canada! The Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC), along with our BC chapter (The Ambulance Paramedics of BC {APBC}) have worked so hard to get this designation for our members. Particularly the Project Leader Ernie Mothus from APBC should be applauded for all the incredible work that he did to bring this project to fruition!

Between the huge financial and HR contribution of APBC and the huge National membership and Lobbying efforts of PAC the PSO designation is now a reality! The APBC Executive, the PAC Executive and the all the Provincial Chapter BOD also need to be thanked for their dedication to making this a reality. All those groups that contributed financially to this cause are also a big reason why we are where we are today--thank you!

A very special thanks goes out to all the paramedics that participated in the last few years' PAC Lobby Days on Parliament Hill. These paramedics need to be recognized for all their efforts in convincing MPs from every party to support this initiative! Way to go team!

Many of you will want to know what the next step is. Basically, your union must now negotiate these benefits with your employer. For those of you in municipal services you will likely look for a "me too" clause to give you what the Police and Fire Fighters are already getting in your municipality. Other services will likely have to find out what the Police and Fire Fighters get in your jurisdictions and start from there. (I'm sure some of the Union folks can explain this process better than I can)

*technically nothing happens or goes into effect until the budget passes a vote in Parliament however early media reports indicate broad support and therefore no indication that the budget would not pass.

Paul Morneau, BSc., ACP
Chairman, Government & Media Relations
Paramedic Association of Canada
Association des paramédics du Canada
300 March Road, 4th Floor
Ottawa ON K2K 2E2
Office: (613) 836-6581
Fax: (613) 836-2914
Email: Paul.Morneau@paramedic.ca
Web: www.paramedic.ca

2005-02-13 - VERY IMPORTANT - 52 NEW PARAMEDICS IN ONE YEAR!

The 2005 Budget process was a resounding success! After months of hard lobbying, the Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa in conjunction with Ottawa Paramedic Service and the Ottawa Base Hospital Program have all been successful at influencing a grand total of 52 new paramedic positions over a one year span!

The icing was put on the cake with a timely follow-up article from Tobi Cohen at the Ottawa Sun. It took me almost half a year before I finally obtained authorization for the Ottawa Sun media to ride out with us in an effort to bring a story about Ottawa Paramedics to life.

It is important to point out that we did not sanction this story nor were we involved in the editing of this story so it is written without bias. It was my wish to see a raw product that was injected full of facts that would "wake up the public". Of course there will be elements in this story that we like and others that we dislike but that is the reality of what happens when you hand the reigns to someone else and let them fly. Either way, this sort of media coverage about paramedics is unprecedented in Ottawa and should be regarded as a leap forward in both our media and public relations.

It was the goal of the Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa to provide Tobi Cohen (Ottawa Sun) with a transparent and human view of our paramedic service from the street level. Tobi joined us on 4 action packed ride-outs over a 4 month period in order to produce this very complex piece about paramedics in Ottawa. Between ride-outs, she logged hundreds of hours confirming statistics and facts by phone and email. Tobi did an excellent job of deciphering a mountain of information as she had to rephrase a barrage of medical lingo in order to miraculously produce an easy to understand and fact filled article (see our NEWS area).

It is without a doubt that the success of our media exposure and lobby effort was based on the number of people who came forward to let their voices be heard. During our lobby campaign at City Hall, the PPAO had dialogue with councillors who reported receiving almost 1000 of our lobby letters which were posted at www.OttawaParamedics.ca. Council’s unanimous support for paramedic enhancements is unprecedented in the City of Ottawa and is a clear indicator that an association really is as powerful as its membership.

o There are currently only 264 paramedics in Ottawa and that gives us the ability to treat and transport 65000 patients per year. The problem is that we are treating and transporting over 90000 patients per year. FACT: We are not currently staffed to match the demand.

o The City of Ottawa has taken the necessary steps to explore alternative solutions to the paramedic crisis in Ottawa. As a result, Ottawa Paramedic Service has evolved into a finely tuned and very efficient machine but we are still unable to meet the demand due to the enormous call volume. It should be remarkable that an additional 30000 calls could be remedied by only 38 more paramedics.

o Hospital delays are having an impact on Ottawa Paramedic Service. The current recommendation is for council to approve an additional 38 paramedics to keep up with GROWTH ONLY. If an attempt was being made to remedy hospital delays, we would need 136 more paramedics (ref: 2004 Fitch Report). Hospital delays are the hospitals problem.

o An emergency service, in the capital of Canada should not be operating in an emergency state year after year. In Ottawa, it has become commonplace to have less than 4 paramedic units available to respond to a population of almost one million people. As a result of the high call volume to low paramedic ratio, it is also now normal that paramedics are forced to work past the end of shifts that are already 12 hours long. So, how does Ottawa stack up to the rest of Canada (ref: 2004 Fitch Report)?

· Ottawa is the only city in Canada to see 30,000 more calls and not even hire ONE paramedic

o The city has already applied countless Band-Aid solutions in an attempt to "splint" the "broken" paramedic service. We have cut paramedics ability to take time off work, limited paramedic vacations, reduced or cancelled annual paramedic mandatory training and even considered sending fire suppression specialists to medical emergencies that they are not qualified or trained to handle. These Band-Aid solutions should be a clear indicator that we have a problem that needs to be fixed and it needs to be understood that only highly trained paramedics should provide medical care and advanced life support treatment to the public.

o The PPAO also provided an enhanced version of our multimedia presentation to council during budget deliberations that contained some very hard hitting points and they were absolutely blown away!

The success of this initiative was based on a concerted message that was carried by three separate groups who clearly outlined the need for more paramedics: The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa Lobby Team, Paramedic Chief Anthony Di Monte as well as Base Hospital ER Physician Justin Maloney (letters attached below). All three stake holders made sure that every councillor was armed with the information that would be required to make an informed decision. In doing so, each councilor was able to easily justify their decision to approve the funds that were required to hire more paramedics.

In closing, I would like to thank everyone who contacted their councillors in an effort to ensure that the voice of paramedics was heard loud and clear. A concerted effort from all stake holders resulted in unanimous and unprecedented support for 52 new paramedic positions over a one year span. The residents of Ottawa will be served by fourteen (14) new paramedic positions on January 01, 2005, twenty (20) new paramedic positions on July 01, 2005 and an additional eighteen (18) positions on January 01, 2006. An association really is as powerful as its membership!

The following letters to council have been provided to the PPAO by Ottawa Base Hospital Medical Director Justin Maloney. They are a clear indicator of the concerted effort that has to take place in an effort to move our profession forward.

January 27, 2005

Mayor Bob Chiarelli

Dear Mr. Chiarelli,

In November, appearing before the Emergency and Protective Services Committee, I stated the people of Ottawa will hold Council “accountable” if they fail to hire the 38 paramedics proposed by the Ottawa Paramedic Service. Melodramatic? Let me explain. The Fitch Report on Emergency Medical Services prescribed a responsible development path for Ottawa’s fledgling ambulance service. It would give us an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system comparable to other Canadian cities. A recent inquest called for more paramedics. Yet, some on Council would target this service for cuts even before it is finished. They should explain why.

It is not clear to me. Why does the unfinished Ottawa Paramedic Service attract such scrutiny? We need robust fire and police services but it is rare to have their operations and performance examined with such persistence. Police and fire services ask for more money because they say both the community and demand on services is expanding. When the paramedic service asks for the same, micromanagers offer that firefighters can fill the gap.

Firefighter tiered response is a critical element of our emergency response. However, a firefighter with an oxygen mask is not a substitute for a paramedic when a patient has a myocardial infarction or a stroke. No responsible firefighter will claim that firefighters with weeks of medical related training are a substitute for paramedics and their 3 years of training. I am not aware there are spare firefighters or fire vehicles sitting around waiting to be used this way. As the Medical Director, I am surprised no councillor has sought my opinion about this.

I attach an excerpt from Fitch that identifies how Ottawa has fewer paramedics per unit of population than other Canadian communities. Every paramedic call involves a potential threat to life. Tell us how we are safe with fewer paramedics than other cities?

This is a critical city service that is not yet fully implemented. Demand from an ageing population will only increase. Tell us you looked at other city services with the same lenses. Explain why it was OK to deviate from the approved plan and cut here. Prepare to tell us at the next inquest. When I said the people of Ottawa will hold you accountable if you cut this service back, I was stating the obvious. You should have very good reasons for your decisions. Peoples’ lives depend on you and I suspect you understand that.

Sincerely,

Justin Maloney, MD

Ottawa Base Hospital Medical Director

FOLLOW-UP LETTER TO MAYOR/COUNCIL FROM DR JUSTIN MALONEY

(OTTAWA BASE HOSPITAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR)

Several of you have responded quickly and in the same vein and so I will offer this response to everyone.

The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa is responsible for promoting the practice of Paramedicine and ensuring the highest level of care for our patients. We are leaders in the advancement of Paramedicine and achieve our objectives through public awareness, research and education. We lobby for self-regulation under the Regulated Health Professions Act. We also assist in fundraising for community-based charities. The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa is a proud chapter of the Ontario Paramedic Association and the Paramedic Association of Canada. The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa (PPAO) is not a labour union.

Lobbying

2005-02-13 - VERY IMPORTANT - 52 NEW PARAMEDICS IN ONE YEAR!