Newsletters Past & Present of the Sarnia Paramedic Association

News Letters of the Sarnia Paramedic Association

February 2000

SARNIA PARAMEDIC ASSOCIATION

"The Post-Vote Edition"
11 March 2000

Sarnia Paramedic Association Committee 2000

Chairperson
Tom Moore

Vice-Chairperson
Gord McLeod

Secretary, Webmaster
Chuck Chivers

Treasurer
(to be elected)

An election is necessary for the position of Treasurer. Both Ray Gowan and Tim Clark have been nominated. Both have accepted the nominations. Ballots will be distributed shortly. Please vote and return your ballot to Wendy Manzie, our returning officer. Wendy will do the official "count" and make the voting results known at the next meeting.

Pop Cooler
Chuck is passing around a suggestion for purchasing a pop cooler for the base. I believe that it would dispense a few different things. He is just getting the "go" from the hospital before looking for some contributions. (We have the go from the powers that be - CFC)

Petition
The petition that we delivered to the Lambton County Council on March 8th at the commencement of the debate had about 470 signatures. A great job by everyone who pounded the street to get signatures. The petition was circulated to every councilor, and most actually went through it page by page. It may have helped. We¹ll never know. Thanks to all for helping. A special thanks to Tony Mallette, Wendy, Chuck, Robin's Donuts and the Bright's Grove Post Office.

V
08 March
"Lambton County Council votes to Operate the Ambulance"

Decision Day
Finished. No more uncertainty about who the employer will be in the future. The County has decided to operate the ambulance as a department of Lambton County. The collective sigh of relief was audible across the County. (with a few exceptions)

Now we can move on with other items, as this decision was taking a lot of the time that our members have for the association. Congratulations everybody. It was great to see the support on March 8th in Wyoming.

Pat Somers congratulated us on the decision, and wished us luck in the future with the Lambton County Ambulance Service.

By the way, County Council holds meetings the first Wednesday of every month for those who are really interested.

One County-One Service

It has already been suggested that we may now wish to extend an invitation to the paramedics who work in other communities in Lambton County. There is interest among the county paramedics who wish to belong to our association. With one service in the future, it seems to make sense. Please come to the next meeting of the association to discuss this, or forward your thoughts in writing if you can't make the meeting. Your input counts.

Fundraisers
Tony Camara has expressed an interest in holding another barbeque to raise money. If anyone would like to join him, or offer their assistance, please let Tony know. (The "big" grill and a barbeque are available from Tom anytime)

We might want to try another location. By the way, we can¹t have them anywhere near Robin's, as gasoline an open flames don't jive.

CHOK Radio

The CHOK Radio show that Gord and Tom did is available on cassette in case you missed it. Callers included Mac Gilpin, Michelle Hunt, various Transcare proponents, Grand Purdy, Dan Griffiths, and calls of support from the Lambton public.

Apparently Sean is still trying to locate CHOK on his radio. Give it up Sean. (Look on the AM side - CFC)

Anybody want to have a celebration for the County Decision?

SARNIA PARAMEDIC ASSOCIATION
"the back page"

This is an article which appeared in the north Lambton newspaper, the Lakeshore Advance'.
I thought that you may like to read it.

Note: It's "pre-vote"

Two North Lambton Mayors absent for Ambulance Vote by Lynda Hillman-Rapley

The Lakeshore Advance

March 08/2000

Bosanquet-A vote today (Wednesday) urges Lambton County council to support the work of the Senior Services Committee saying, "no-thanks" to private, profit driven ambulance service for the county. Unfortunately two of the mayors will not be available to voice their council¹s wishes.

"We have to make sure the three mayors who are at the meeting know our concerns," said Coun. David Pugh.

Coun. John Walsh concurred saying there are problems with ambulance service in Grand Bend because the service comes from Huron County and the response time is 15 minutes and "that is not good" says the councilor.

The recommendation that Lambton County assume full management and operation of land ambulances within the county is the result of months of work by county councilors and a newly hired Land Ambulance Transition coordinator.

The Sarnia Paramedic Association says the decision to adopt a "hands-on" county operated ambulance service will place Lambton with the majority of Ontario municipalities who have made the same decision. Many other regional and county councils have adopted to manage their own ambulances. These regions have recognized that a profit-driven management of ambulances will not meet the needs of their communities.

A report drafted by Michelle Hunt of the Health and Senior Services Committee says a municipally run service would be able to respond to jurisdictional needs as required. Part the document states, "The County of Lambton is unique in that it is very reliant on tourists. Without question tourists inundate the entire northern lakeshore sections of the county, from Victoria Day to Labour Day. A municipal system of delivery would have greater ability to respond in seasonal changes and move area resources to locations better suited to optimization of response and recourse utilization. The system could be "tailored" to seasonal, economic and social dynamics as they occur, and maintain a system that retains its accessibility, seamless ness, responsiveness, integration and accountability. All this can be
accomplished without causing the taxpayers to be penalized for having to renegotiate or open a second contract with an independent operator. The transitional process is leading to a regenesis in the delivery of Ambulance service and thus redefinition of Emergency Pre-Hospital services, built by, paid for and utilized by the residents of the County of Lambton."

Bosanquet's concerns about today's vote stem from the fact that County Council does not allow for alternates and since their mayor and Grand Bend¹s mayor are away, they are concluding their councils will not have a vote. Council agreed to send letters by fax to the three mayors who will be voting, expressing the town's concerns before today¹s meeting.

DeZorzi said the Health Services document and today's vote is a "springboard" for better service and they (Bosanquet) want to make sure they do "get better service".

Grand Bend council met Monday night, with quorum, but didn't discuss the vote.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This newsletter is intended for anyone who may wish to express an opinion about anything. This space is not limited to subject matter. It is not edited and does not discriminate.

I would be very pleased to print something from members of the Sarnia Paramedic Association, or anyone who may wish to have their ideas read by the paramedics generally.

Please consider this an open invitation.

You may leave your submission in Tom's mailbox, or mail it to:

Sarnia Paramedic Association

Box 265,

Bright¹s Grove
NON 1C0

if you are shy.

Tom