THUNDER BAY — Feeling burned out and perhaps somewhat underappreciated, local paramedics are welcoming the establishment of a provincial committee that will focus exclusively on their unique health and safety risks.
In an announcement Tuesday, Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Minister Monte McNaughton promised to work with the Paramedic Services Committee to ensure paramedics get the support they need.
Established under a section of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the committee is comprised of employer and labour representatives who provide the minister with technical expertise and advice on health and safety issues, including recommending regulatory changes and action on emerging issues.
Unions representing paramedics had already participated on a subcommittee, but according to the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs, the full, standalone Section 21 committee will work under a new format that allows for a quicker response to their specific concerns.
Rob Moquin, unit chair for Unifor Local 39 representing 120 people employed in the City of Thunder Bay by Superior North EMS, said he believes it will be able to "dig a little deeper" into paramedics' concerns.
"COVID-19 has exposed several cracks in our healthcare system. This is going to provide a provincial table to give paramedics an opportunity to talk with the government about real concerns. Then there can be some action plans to help fix some of the broken systems we're working under."
Moquin said paramedics tend to be "a very humble group," doing their jobs under challenging working conditions while putting aside "some of the bad things" they encounter daily.
But that comes with a price, he said.
"The number of violent encounters against paramedics has increased significantly over the last number of years, and we are seeing an impact on their mental health. I'm just glad that the government is recognizing that these things are happening, and there's going to be a task force ... to help make the job of being a paramedic a little easier."
According to Moquin, job-related mental and physical health issues have made staffing a growing concern for paramedic services across Ontario.
"We're seeing a huge influx of emergency calls because of the opioid crisis, socio-economic and mental health calls across the province and specifically here in Thunder Bay. The problem is that paramedics are ill-equipped to deal with some of these because we're not adequately trained to deal with mental health and socio-economic issues. It's an ever-changing profession that's become difficult to work under."
He said burnout and inadequate compensation are driving many to leave what he called a fractured healthcare system that's come to lean too heavily on paramedics.
In the last three months alone, three frontline staff members have departed Superior North EMS.
Moquin said it doesn't help that paramedics are "quite behind" other emergency responders, such as police and fire services, in terms of wages and benefits.
Standalone Section 21 committees were already in place for Ontario's police and fire services.
Dave Doran, spokesperson for OPSEU's ambulance division, said establishing a committee for the paramedic sector is a win for those workers.
"EMS work is extremely diverse and encompasses practices not found in other healthcare professions, which is why for years we have been calling for paramedics to have a standalone committee," he said.
The chief of Superior North EMS, Shane Muir, also welcomed the announcement.
He said the organization and the city are already working to address safety issues related to increasing incidents of violence against first responders.
"We want to make sure everyone gets home to their families at the end of the day," Muir said.
