The Ontario Paramedic Association is taking another shot at essential service status.
Spokesperson Glen Gillies tells Bayshore Broadcasting News that the designation would ensure paramedics would report to work regardless of any labour issues within the various municipalities.
Gillies says it’s a matter of public safety and security.
He says paramedics were classed as a public safety occupation at the federal Level in 2005 and the O-P-A wants the province to follow suit.
Gillies says when the OPA’s request in 2005 filtered down to the provincial level it was blocked.
The OPA is represented by several different labour unions, all of which have agreements in place with their upper tier municipalities and service providers, and Gillies says that’s one reason the status has been hard to get.
He says they are now seeking the Minister’s of Health, Public Safety and Labour to re-consider the status, so that ambulance services can be on the job 100 per cent of the time.