Province should fully fund rural EMS, says NOMA president

SHUNIAH – Northern land ambulance services that are strapped for employees would have an easier time recruiting and keeping paramedics if the province fully funded those agencies, says president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Wendy Landry.

In a letter last week to Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones, Landry says the ongoing shortage of paramedics in the region is "critical" and "of grave concern."
"In comparison to more urban communities, Northwestern Ontario's efforts to recruit and retain paramedics are hampered by the rural and remote nature of the district, non-competitive salaries and benefit packages and an inability to maintain work-life balance," wrote Landry.

Full funding from the province "will allow (Northern) regions to offer competitive salaries and benefits, upgrade outdated equipment and bases, and invest in workplace health and safety programs," Landry said, who is also Mayor of Shuniah.

She added: "These steps will help attract and retain paramedics, especially where local municipalities can't increase tax revenues."

Superior North Emergency Medical Services (EMS) opened a new ambulance station in Shuniah in January.

Superior North EMS Chief Shane Muir said earlier that the new $1.5-million facility will make it a bit easier to recruit staff, although he said the service overall continues to contend with a paramedic shortage.

When the Shuniah station opened its doors, Muir said he could use up to 50 more additional paramedics overall, but noted the shortage impacts several other ambulance services across the country.

In her letter to Jones, Landry urged the ministry to launch a province-wide recruitment campaign and collaborate with other provincial departments like the labour and college and university ministries.

Landry said the status quo has not only led to staffing shortfalls; in July, it caused a temporary closure of Emo's ambulance station in the Rainy River district.

"The well-being of our paramedics is compromised, and our residents are at risk of not having access to life-saving ambulance services," Landry said.