Toronto Paramedic Association Asks Candidates To Support Essential Service

TORONTO, Oct. 19 /CNW/ - With the City election only days away, the Toronto Paramedic Association would like to raise a very important election issue to all council and mayoral candidates, as well as to the voters in the City of Toronto.

Toronto Paramedics are still not deemed an essential service like Police Officers and Firefighters. In the event of another city strike like last summer, Toronto Paramedics will again be forced to work at only 75% of our normal compliment, and this could mean the difference between life and death for millions of people. This fact is of great concern to the Toronto Paramedic Association, as it should be for everyone who lives in this city.

The Toronto Paramedic Association believes that on a regular basis and not withstanding a strike situation, the number of Ambulances and Paramedic crews on duty and available to service emergency calls in Toronto is already dangerously low. Therefore in a strike situation, at 75% staffing, we are very concerned that we will not be able to keep our response times to critical life and death emergency calls at an acceptable and safe level.

This situation will put lives at risk, and as medical professionals and patient care advocates we are speaking out in hopes that the new council and mayor will not let this continue. Toronto Paramedics are asking for the support of the public, our new city council and mayor to finally assure the safety of the city, by making essential service status for Paramedics a priority issue in this election. By designating Toronto Paramedics an essential service, the same as Police Officers and Firefighters, this new city council will finally be reassuring all citizens of Toronto that if and when a medical emergency happens to them, they can have absolute confidence that they will always receive the life saving skills of a highly trained Paramedic in time.

For further information:

Roberta Scott

P.R. Director
Toronto Paramedic Association
Cell 416 456-6989