Eastern Ontario Leaders Advocate for Paramedic College

Numerous municipalities in Eastern Ontario are urging the provincial government to establish a regulatory college for paramedics, claiming it could enhance care in areas that lack sufficient services.

This is one of several initiatives being pursued by the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EWOC) – which represents 103 municipalities – at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference happening in Toronto this week. Various regional paramedic chiefs are also backing this effort.

A regulatory college would simplify the process for paramedics to work in Ontario by standardizing professional licenses throughout Canada, according to EWOC. It would also ensure greater accountability within the profession, they argue.

Bonnie Clark, chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, believes this year’s Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference is an ideal time to promote the idea of a paramedic college. (EOWC)

A professional college would also enhance care across the province, as stated by Bonnie Clark, EWOC’s chair.

“It allows for that expanded scope of practice in a community base, and of course, then that takes the pressure off our emergency department,” she said.

Five other provinces already have professional colleges for paramedics, making Ontario somewhat unique in this regard.

Paramedics Taking on Extra Responsibilities

In Ontario, paramedics aren’t regulated under the same laws as other healthcare professionals. Instead, they fall under the 1990 Ambulance Act.

However, this act only addresses 911 services and does not include additional services like community paramedicine, according to Mike Slatter, chief paramedic for Haliburton County and chair of the Eastern Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs.

Increasingly, paramedics have taken on more responsibilities such as home visits, Slatter noted, leading to complicated legal situations.

“We’ve been playing a growing role in the province, in community-based care with community paramedic programs which.. help prevent hospitalizations and help prevent emergency department visits,” he said.

Back in 2016, CUPE-representing thousands of emergency responders-opposed forming a regulatory college for paramedics due to concerns about adding unnecessary bureaucratic layers.

However, Slatter mentioned that since COVID-19 changed many aspects of healthcare delivery roles for paramedics have evolved significantly; hence he believes it’s time to update legislation.

Renfrew County’s chief paramedic and director of emergency services Michael Nolan expressed his support for revising how paramedics are regulated in Ontario. (CBC)

Treating paramedics similarly to other healthcare professionals could help “get more paramedics on the road,” thinks Michael Nolan who is Renfrew County’s chief paramedic.

“There are a lot of people in Ontario that need paramedics working in different practice settings but can’t because it’s tied only to working in an ambulance service,” he explained.

“And that’s really what EOWC is emphasizing: it’s time we modernize how we approach the Ambulance Act.”

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