TORONTO, ON – A new provincial poll released today shows that Ontarians aren’t on board for recent Liberal government changes that would redirect 911 medical calls away from paramedic ambulance services to fire departments. If they had to make a 911 call for medical assistance for themselves or a family member, more than 83 per…
TORONTO, ON – In an uncommon show of opposition to changes to paramedic pre-hospital medical care, dozens of paramedics from several communities are protesting at the Ontario Legislature tomorrow (Tuesday, December 12 at 10:00 a.m.) amendments to the Ambulance Act they believe will hurt patients needing emergency medical care. The government plans third and…
NIAGARA FALLS, ON – Paramedics conferencing in Niagara Falls today, voted unanimously to adopt a resolution setting strict conditions before they will endorse legislative changes soon expected to the rules governing the delivery of emergency services in Ontario. Newly elected Chair of the CUPE Ambulance Committee of Ontario (CACO) Jason Fraser said Ontario’s frontline paramedics…
WATERLOO, ON – Members of Local 5191 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 5191), representing emergency medical services workers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, have ratified a tentative agreement after two days of voting. The union will now await ratification of the agreement by Waterloo Regional Council, who are expected to make…
WATERLOO, ON – Local 5191 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (Regional Municipality of Waterloo Emergency Medical Services) and the Region of Waterloo have mutually agreed to a media blackout, effective until further notice. Both parties are committed to continue working towards a collective agreement. – 30 – For more information, please contact: Matthew…
WATERLOO, ON – Region of Waterloo Council must address chronic understaffing of its Paramedic Services, according to Local 5191 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 5191) which represents the Region’s 220+ paramedics. “It’s a public safety issue,” says Chris Sutton, representative for CUPE 5191. “There are times when there are no ambulances readily…
TORONTO, ON — Diverting and triaging patients who call 911 for emergency medical care away from hospitals and allowing paramedics on firetrucks, instead of putting more ambulances and paramedics on the road, is fraught with risks, warn paramedics with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) responding to an announcement today, by the Ontario Liberals to…
SUDBURY, ON — Even though it’s being characterized as a Greater Sudbury fire and paramedic services “optimization” plan, “meaningful dialogue about enhancing paramedic emergency medical care doesn’t seem to be on the radar. And it most certainly should be since ambulance call volumes have increased significantly and fire calls declined. In a medical emergency only…
February 08, 2017 Dear Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins: On December 19, 2016, a response to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) discussion paper entitled “Patients First – Expanding Medical Responses” was sent to your office, signed by both of us, on behalf of CUPE Ontario and CUPE Ontario’s Ambulance Coordinating Committee (CACO)…
MEMORANDUM TO: CUPE Ontario Paramedic Workers FROM: Jeff van Pelt, Chair CUPE Ambulance Committee of Ontario (CACO) DATE: December 9, 2016 RE: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) Consultation Process on “Expanding Medical Responses Discussion Paper” On November 21, 2016 the MOHLTC issued a discussion paper entitled “Expanding Medical Responses Discussion Paper”. Stakeholders…
