Happiness

Happiness,

that in and of itself is the problem. Government, employers, supervisors, etc all count on the fact that we like to help people and will effortlessly hold it over our heads and very frequently use it as a bargaining tool or tactic.

How can staff 'help' the people we serve if you feel overworked, overutilized, understaffed, undervalued, and underpayed? After 16 years of doing this line of work, I have lost any care for the glory of the job. It is just that, it's a job. I work to live, not live to work.

At some point in time we as a collective have to stand together and say a loud and resounding "NO". It's like battered wife syndrome. As long as you feel it is acceptable and you deserve what you get, you will never get out of a pattern of behaviour.

Like you said, we make constant sacrifices. Missing special events, working important holidays away from your family. It's a wonderful feeling telling your kids "sorry daddy can't be home with you Christmas morning". I'm still reminded by my daughter of the times I haven't been there.

I think your perspective is admirable but is a little naïve.

Did I miss something

My reference to that was not to be taken as an insult by any means, it is a common ailment of full time paramedics that have are overworked and underpaid.

Here is the information that I recieved, for those that are interested. This fight is not over by any means I'm sure. I tried to edit some of this but I couldnt make it any shorter (sorry squint im just not that smart) so I know it is long but it does show there is some political support for our cause. Dam I just made it longer

Attached other items of interest!

After a long night of fighting for the integrity of our health care system and the collective bargaining rights of all British Columbians, Bill 21 was passed!

For Immediate Release

Nov. 8, 2009

BILL 21 LATEST BETRAYAL OF HEALTH SYSTEM AND AN ATTACK ON OUR AMBULANCE PARAMEDICS -COONS

VICTORIA The B.C. Liberals decision to ram through legislation forcing an imposed contract on ambulance paramedics is an admission of their failure to manage the health care system, New Democrat leader Carole James said today.

The B.C. Liberals could have appointed an independent arbitrator and settled the paramedics strike months ago. Instead, they ignored the issue and refused to listen to ambulance workers concerns, said James.

North Coast MLA Gary Coons added, Its a sad for democracy. British Columbians feel deceived by the B.C. Liberals failed record on health care and the current attack against our valued paramedics all across the province. To pass legislation in the middle of a ratification vote is unprecedented. The members of CUPE 873 , the BC Ambulance Paramedics, were voting on a September 28 offer from the government and this is the first time in Labour history that any government has ordered back a group of workers and imposed a contract during a ratification vote. This shows the contempt and disrespect for not only the free collective bargaining system , but for our paramedics who risk their lives, to save ours, every day in this great province.

New Democrat MLAs opposed Bill 21, the Ambulance Services Collective Agreement Act, through an all-night session of the legislature, but on Saturday morning the Liberal government rammed through this draconian piece of legislation. Although the opposition spent over 30 hrs of debate not one backbench Liberal government member stood to justify this assault on workers, families and the bargaining process, and only 2 Ministers gave their interpretation!

Throughout the paramedics dispute, essential services orders have ensured that ambulance services have not been impacted. In many cases, levels of ambulance service have actually been higher under the essential services order.

Although the Minister of Health used H1N1 as an excuse, this legislation seems to have been influenced by VANOC and the VANOC Medical Services (see attached) who requested that the Campbell government either settle or legislate the strike so that services would not be interrupted during the Olympic Games. The government chose legislation that will not only set back future negotiations with the paramedics but will inflame the labour relations climate just months before public sector negotiations, said Coons. If the government were serious about improving our public health care system, they would respect front-line health care workers, including the hard work of ambulance paramedics who save lives in our communities every day. I believe that this is not the end of the paramedic struggle to fight for their, and our, ambulance service. They have the support and respect of so many people in BC.

Paramedics have been fighting for better staffing levels and fair wages, including an end to the $2 an hour on-call rate.

The B.C. Liberals have a record of trampling the rights of ordinary British Columbians. Last year, the B.C. Liberals had to bring in legislation to repair the damage done when they tore up health care workers contracts in 2003, which the Supreme Court of Canada ruled illegal.

AND

Deputy Speaker: I will take this opportunity to remind all members that the debate consideration this evening is for the motion before you. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

G. Coons: Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I'm here. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

It's an honour and privilege to speak to Bill 21, the ambulance services imposed contract act. I don't think we can call it a collective agreement. I think everybody in this room can agree that it is not a collective agreement, and that's why we need to support the hoist motion before us. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

We need six months to sit back, reflect on what's happened in the last year, the last two years and it isn't just the last year or two. It's a collection of decades where we've allowed our ambulance service to get in a critical condition. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

I represent the paramedics in Prince Rupert on the north coast, in Prince Rupert, on Haida Gwaii and on the central coast in Bella Coola. But I don't represent paramedics; I represent my constituents. We in this House represent British Columbians. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

This motion before us, this hoist motion, is what we need to do to ensure that we have labour peace in the province, that paramedics are respected for the job that they do, and that we can move forward, continuing the best ambulance service we have in the country. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

We need the six months so that we can reflect on the 3,471 paramedics in the province who work out of about 400 or 500 ambulances, who did 534,000 calls in 2007-08. If you take these numbers in perspective, paramedics made contact with one in eight people living in the province of British Columbia. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

[2005]

If you compare that elsewhere, you can see very quickly that our paramedics, our ambulance service, is not only the busiest in the country but the most dedicated, the best trained. They deserve six months for us to sit down and reflect on what we're doing with this imposed contract. Now, [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

HSE - 20091106 PM 014/gtw/2005

the best trained, and they deserve six months for us to sit down and reflect on what we're doing with this imposed contract. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Now, I'm a teacher, and quite often I become…. I'm overprepared. I get hundreds and hundreds, or thousands, of letters and e-mails about this situation, and I try to put it in perspective. The last thing I want to do…. I come to this legislature, go to meetings, travel throughout the riding I represent, travel throughout the province, and I listen, because my role is to learn and represent the feelings of British Columbians. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

The last thing I want to do is be in a bubble, be the only one that's in this bubble, all by myself. I think we need this motion to hoist and have an extra six months so that we give a gentle nudge to the bubble that the members on the other side are in. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Now, I would hope that over the next few hours, couple of days, as we debate this hoist motion and move forward with trying to actually have a collective agreement versus an imposed one, that it is our job on this side of the House to just burst that bubble, that bubble that this government is in, so that they realize that we need six months, at least, to look at where we need to go with our ambulance service in this province. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Now, I'm not too sure if it's the whole opposite side, the government side, that's in the bubble. We have that opportunity to burst that bubble and allow us, collectively, to have six more months, with this hoist motion, but I have a feeling that the minister is in his own bubble the ultimate bubble boy, I guess. I think that our job today, tonight, and however long it takes, is to get the members on the other side of the House to have their bubble burst so they can approach the minister and burst that big bubble that he's standing in. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

There are many reasons, I believe, we need to have an extra six months of reflection, we need this hoist motion. I'm trying to put it in perspective so that I am not getting off the reason I'm talking. I've got some reasons here why we need to hoist the bill before us, this imposed contract. It's a regressive piece of legislation. It's an assault against free collective bargaining. It's a deliberate attack against our valued ambulance paramedics. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Another reason we need to hoist this piece of legislation is because it's not in the public interest. There has been interference by VANOC in the free collective bargaining process. It does nothing. If we pass this and do not hoist it, it will do nothing for the systemic problems that we have daily in our ambulance service. It's an outrageous and callous interference during a strike vote. It will cause undue labour disruptions throughout the province. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

This bill before us this ambulance services imposed contract act needs to be hoisted so we have that reflective thought exemplifies the contempt and disrespect for the people that ride in our ambulances and all of the ambulance workers. But one of the key reasons I'm going to start off with this is, basically…. Not one government member on the other side, except for the Minister of Energy and Mines, stood to defend the reason for imposing a contract on paramedics. There might be some really good reasons. We don't know that. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

In my comments, I will stick to…. Hopefully, I will be able to get through all of the ten reasons why we need to hoist this and delay for six months, because there are many, many reasons. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

[2010]

I've heard from so many people, as we all have, as government members have heard. I hope I have an opportunity to get to some of them. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

HSE - 20091106 PM 015/bah/2010

hoist this and delay for six months because there are many, many reasons. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

I've heard from so many people, as we all have, as government members have heard. I hope I have an opportunity to get to some of them, but I have an obligation to acknowledge and recognize a paramedic chief in Port Clements who e-mailed me to talk about the reason we need to hoist this bill before us. I'm going to get to that. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

This is Terry Mitchell. He's a paramedic chief in Port Clements. I read part of his letter in second debate. He says he's angry, disappointed and fearful. He's angry because they bargained in good faith, unlike the government. He's disappointed because it gives him no incentive to continue working for B.C. Ambulance, and he's scared because if this legislation passes, it truly confirms that the government has "no respect for the job I do" and, more importantly, no respect for the citizens of British Columbia. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Now, that was on the debate a couple of days ago. He's contacted me since the hoist motion. He says: "I am truly amazed that the minister is so narrow-sighted that he thinks this will solve the pressing concerns that the government has fabricated. The hoist motion introduced by the opposition is perhaps the only thing, the only thing at this point in time, that could demonstrate good faith on the part of the government." [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

That's why we're here. We're here to hopefully encourage the government to vote for this hoist motion and move forward and demonstrate good faith. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Now, I do want to talk about Terry and why he's so dedicated and so inclined to e-mail his MLA to try to get this hoist motion passed in this House. Terry is a very, very dedicated paramedic. He was the first paramedic to ever ride with the Cops for Cancer on the Tour de North from Port Clements. He raised $8,000 for Cops for Cancer. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

The exMinister of Health, who is now the Minister of Aboriginal Relations, said: "We are very proud of the fundraising efforts of Terry Mitchell and the support the B.C. Ambulance Service provides each year as other paramedics volunteer time to travel. The commitment of our paramedics and others at the B.C. Ambulance Service in giving back to our communities needs to be recognized and applauded." [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

I agree. I agree. That is the Minister of Health two years ago the ex-minister, the previous Minister of Health. Where is he now? Nowhere to be seen. Where are the members from the other side? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Deputy Speaker: Member. You will bring yourself back to consideration of the motion. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

G. Coons: Thank you, Chair. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

When I talk about the ten reasons, one of the reasons we need to hoist this bill is to give the members on the other side an opportunity to stand and reflect and realize we are going in the wrong direction with an imposed contract. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

I'm standing here on behalf of paramedics who are dedicated, who have dedicated their lives to the profession and want to have a negotiated contract. Paramedics like Terry Mitchell. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Now, as I mentioned, one of the key reasons that we need to hoist this bill that's before us is we have not heard from the members from the other side. They need an opportunity to participate. They need an opportunity maybe not to participate here in this House on record. They need to go back into their chambers, perhaps burst the bubbles at their end, sit down and reflect on what this bill is going to do not only to paramedics but to the labour climate in this province and how it's going to impact British Columbians. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

[2015]

Now, I mentioned earlier that one of the members…. I give credit to the member, the member for Peace River South, the Minister of Energy and Mines. He stood up. He stood tall and talked to this bill. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

HSE - 20091106 PM 016/klm/2015

the member for Peace River South, the Minister of Energy and Mines. He stood up. He stood tall and talked to this bill. But again, he received communications about his comments. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

The reason that we need to have an extra six months of delay of reflection, negotiations, looking at a path forward is so that people throughout the province not only paramedics but the mayors throughout the province, the regional districts, those at the UBCM who supported our paramedics for the last three years and recognized what the paramedics do in every corner of our province have an opportunity to get hold of their MLA, whether it's government or opposition, and confirm the direction we need to go. That is why we need to hoist this bill and have a six-month parlay into actual communications throughout the province. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Now, when I look at a note I got from a person from Chilliwack, Michael Topping…. His MLA is the Chilliwack-Hope MLA, and he says: "It's great disappointment I find myself writing to you. I want you to stand up in the House and explain to your paramedic constituents why you personally support this bill." Now, if we pass this bill, the Minister of Environment, the MLA for Chilliwack-Hope, will not have an opportunity to stand in this House and talk about the bill and explain why this government is imposing this contract on them. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

So a key reason for the hoist motion is so that there's an opportunity for everybody in the House to go back to their ridings and actually explain why we need this bill passed, or why we need to change it and actually have it in a collective agreement versus in an imposed contract. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Another letter I got dealing with hoisting this motion and hoisting this bill was from Peter Smith. His MLA is for Abbotsford South, and he says: "I find Bill 21 an absolute outrage, taking away basic collective bargaining and democratic rights because of some excuse like H1N1. Shame on all you Liberals for not standing up for your constituents. Shame on you." With a hoist…. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Deputy Speaker: Member, please take your seat. You will know that I have repeatedly asked members to consider the motion under debate and not to revisit second reading debate. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Please proceed.

G. Coons: Thank you, hon. Speaker. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Again, the reason that we need to hoist this bill is to have the opportunity for reflective debate. If it's passed, if it was passed when this government wanted it to be passed, that would be the end of it. Constituents could not have the opportunity to have input into it, and that's why we need to have this bill hoisted, with an extra six months of reflection and thought. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Also, we look at the MLA for Abbotsford-Mission. "Where are you on this?" says Peter Smith. "Are you going to stand up and tell me why you backed Bill 21 when the ambulance service was in such a dismal state of disrepair for years prior to this?" He's requesting thoughtful debate on this, and that's what this motion we've brought forward, this hoist mission, will allow us. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Now, when we look at this legislation and one of the reasons I said that we needed to hoist this and delay it for six months was because it's regressive. It's a regressive piece of legislation. It's imposed. It's draconian. But we can change that. We can change that if we had time to look at what's in the bill and how we need to move forward. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

[2020]

Again, this piece of legislation was [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

HSE - 20091106 PM 017/ajb/2020

at what's in the bill and how we need to move forward. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Again, this piece of legislation was actually presented in the House to some degree, as a lot of people have informed me under some sort of false pretence. And we need to alleviate that concern. We cannot pass a bill in here where people think it was presented to us in this Legislature under a false pretence. You know, the minister stood up and said that H1N1 is the real reason that paramedics are being legislated back to work. I'm hearing that's not true. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

We've seen a memo from VANOC that says that pressure was put on the government to either settle or legislate. Nowhere in there did H1N1 come into the question, come into the equation. So I think it's imperative not only on this side of the House, but on the government side to alleviate that concern of false pretence. But we haven't heard anybody stand up. We haven't heard anybody stand up and shoot down that theory. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Leanne Nixon: "I urge you to reconsider Bill 21. Paramedics deserve a fair settlement. H1N1 is not the real reason they're being legislated. If it was, why aren't paramedics even being considered a priority for the H1N1 shots?" [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

I don't understand. As we look at the purpose of us being here tonight, which is trying to get passed a piece of legislation that is so vital…. It's so significant, at such a significant point in time in the province. We got the Olympics coming up. We have other issues out there. This should have been dealt with a long time ago. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

There could have been an arbitrator, an independent arbitrator. There's still time for that. There's still time for that. If we have a hoist motion, then there's an opportunity to rethink how we got here today and put in an arbitrator to get a real collective agreement. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Again, I have to go back to the premise of why they had to pass this legislation the premise, a false premise that we need to deal with. The only way we can deal with that false premise is by having a six-month delay. John Strohmaier says: [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

"The government claims this legislation is necessary in light of the H1N1 crisis. We've been saying the service needs serious attention for more than four years. We warned the government…. The reality is that paramedics are leaving the service in droves because they pay for their own training, they pay for their own travel to and from the job, and they cannot afford to remain paramedics."

Now, that is a real dilemma. A real dilemma. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

There are mixed messages going on here, and to pass a piece of legislation as important as Bill 21, we have to make sure we're doing the right thing. The government, on that side, has to ensure they're doing the right thing. At this point in time, our job in this House is to try to burst that bubble and say: "Think about whether you are doing the right thing." [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

I remember the debate back a year ago, prior to us having a concern about negotiated contracts or imposed contracts or hoisting a bill that needs clarification. The member from Abbotsford-Mission, the Minister of State for Mining said: "I want to talk about the individual members, the individual paramedics who are out there working in British Columbia. I want to speak for a moment about the leadership that John Strohmaier, the head of the paramedics union, has shown." [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

[2025]

So we have a mixed message. We don't have the member from Abbotsford-Mission standing up talking about the premises of false pretences. But there's a lot of respect on the other side for John Strohmaier. So we need clarification [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

HSE - 20091106 PM 018/img/2025

talking about the false pretences, but there's a lot of respect on the other side for John Strohmaier. So we need clarification. We need an extra six months to sit back, reflect, burst our bubbles, and move forward. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

As we move forward, you know, it's a concern, not only in this House, where we're debating Bill 21, this imposed contract, and we want to hoist it so that we change that imposed contract to a collective agreement. But there's concern outside of this chamber, a lot of concern. People up and down my riding on the north coast, throughout the province in every riding, every constituency, have concerns. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Again, we cannot rush in and pass a bill that is not in the public interest. It would be a detriment to communities throughout the province. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

As far back as 2003 at the UBCM there was a resolution for support for provincewide ambulance services. Right up until 2009 the UBCM had motions put forward by mayors, by regional districts, by elected officials throughout the province every corner of the province. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

I've got some communications that are concerned about the progress of this bill and where we're going. We have an obligation. We have an obligation to sit back, take this Bill 21 and put it somewhere where we can sort it out, either through an independent arbitrator or perhaps back at the bargaining table. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

But, you know, as far as the latest UBCM…. They talk about a recruitment challenge. In 2008 they talk about standby pay. In 2007 they talk about the ambulance service, where a timely response…. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Deputy Speaker: Member, that is not referencing the motion under debate. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

G. Coons: Thank you, hon. Chair. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

All of these issues are issues that need to be looked at during the six-month hoist. We need to be sure that those mayors, those regional district members, those elected officials throughout the province have confidence and faith in the bill we're passing before us, and we can't do that. We couldn't do that yesterday. We couldn't do that today. That's why the opposition reluctantly put forth the hoist motion so that we can have that reflective thought and move forward. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Hon. Chair, we saw the concern about some interference, some false pretences. Again, when we move forward with this bill, we need to ensure…. Have the opportunity to tell British Columbians that we've passed a bill that we are comfortable with, that the paramedics are comfortable with, that we can move forward with an ambulance service where there's timely response, where their issues about recruitment and training have been dealt with. The $2 wage needs to be dealt with, and that's something where a hoist motion…. We can look at all of these issues and move forward. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

A key component that I have a real problem with and a lot of people have is that we need to hoist this motion and change it from this imposed contract to a collective agreement. I mentioned that one of my ten reasons for hoisting and having a delay of six months is because we need to deal with free collective bargaining. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

[2030]

Somebody from Kamloops South wrote a letter, and they said that they're appalled it's being rammed through. "My MLA from Kamloops South said that he was standing by to allow collective bargaining to take its course." [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

HSE - 20091106 PM 019/iaw/2030

wrote a letter, and they said that they're appalled it's being rammed through. "My MLA from Kamloops south said that he was standing by to allow collective bargaining to take its course." Now, collective bargaining to take its course. Well, let's go to…. Oh yeah, they've called it the Ambulance Services Collective Agreement Act. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

But it is not collective bargaining. There's no collective bargaining. It's an imposed contract in the middle of a vote, so we need to hoist this motion because, I guess, paramedic members of the union were voting on the contract that the government put before them, I believe, last September 28. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

How ludicrous is it to be standing in this House and have a bill come before us where we're waiting for the results of the vote on a contract? If it's agreed upon by the union, then I guess it's a collective agreement. Then we can call it that. We need to hoist this bill for six months so that we can see if we can get to free collective bargaining. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

I did have ten things here I was talking about, and at first, I thought: "Jeez, it's a top ten, sort of like the Letterman show." But I realize that you can't really equate what's happening in this Legislature with Letterman, except that to some degree what happened to Letterman and his staff is happening to paramedics throughout the province and by this government. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

On that, I will reiterate: we need six months' reflective, sober reflection on this bill. We need collective bargaining. We need to respect our paramedics. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

One last thing. A couple of paramedics e-mailed me and said that Bill 21 needs to be shredded. It should not be before this House. That's why we have this motion before us to hoist it, and respecting paramedics, I'm going to do what I think needs to be done with Bill 21. We're going to support the hoist motion, and hopefully, it will be shredded. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Deputy Speaker: Members, and for the member who has just spoken, you know that those inferences are not appropriate when referring to other hon. members. I would ask you to withdraw. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

G. Coons: I withdraw. [DRAFT

AND the best for last

Earlier this fall, a memorandum was sent from Dr Mike Wilkinson (he's Director of Medical Services for Vanoc) to Stephen Brown, Lee Doney and other government officials. In part that memo stated:

"VANOC Medical Services (and thus the IOC) requires definitive confirmation by Oct 1 2009 that all required ambulance services will be provided as planned. These services include the ability to engage the VPCs and BCAS members in full venue planning as soon as possible. This confirmation must also include a guarantee that no services during the Games will be disrupted or reduced from what has been planned."

"If we are unable to obtain that guarantee (through either settlement of the strike or legislated "detente" for the Games), then VANOC will be required to initiate alternative contingency plans to avoid cancellation of the Games."

To me, that seems to be a very clear link between this legislated contract and the 2010 Games.

I dont know how far it will take paramedics by writting to their MLA's but in my case I recieved a response with in 36 hrs. I think that was not to bad concidering most politians dont make any responses. We need to keep up our regular duties and not do the overtime and them maybe they will understand by making us go back to work they have just shot themselves in the foot. One thing I do know is that the government is solicitating for newly trained EMR's that are licensed for the olympics and they are willing to pay them 2500.00 per month. This is without travel, or housing for their troubles.

Mr. Coons will try to take my orginal letter forward as he says and I do trust him enough to do so.

Happiness

Happiness,

that in and of itself is the problem. Government, employers, supervisors, etc all count on the fact that we like to help people and will effortlessly hold it over our heads and very frequently use it as a bargaining tool or tactic.

How can staff 'help' the people we serve if you feel overworked, overutilized, understaffed, undervalued, and underpayed? After 16 years of doing this line of work, I have lost any care for the glory of the job. It is just that, it's a job. I work to live, not live to work.

At some point in time we as a collective have to stand together and say a loud and resounding "NO". It's like battered wife syndrome. As long as you feel it is acceptable and you deserve what you get, you will never get out of a pattern of behaviour.

Like you said, we make constant sacrifices. Missing special events, working important holidays away from your family. It's a wonderful feeling telling your kids "sorry daddy can't be home with you Christmas morning". I'm still reminded by my daughter of the times I haven't been there.

I think your perspective is admirable but is a little naïve.

Im sorry to hear that you have personally lost your care in your job. But if you would have understood what I was saying like DONT do overtime and the little extras ect you would see that I am not naive, I just want people to know that I believe most of us do this because we do care, and at the end of the day it is the public that needs us not the government (unless of course they call an ambulance).

I did get a response from my MLA and he did send me some information. I have asked him directly if I can post it in this forum and am waiting for his reply.

agreed this just proves my mums comment "Im going to bed with a good book, I would say a good man but there isnt any"

One thing that I hope all of us who are involved is to remember that we do this because we like to help. It is a natural ability not one that you learn in the class room. If we start acting like the government and not do our jobs in good faith where will it get us. It will give us the bad name in the province not the government. If we stop manning our cars unless your going to Falcons or Campbell house we are just hurting those who need us. I have personally had to sit and wait for an ambulance for a loved one and it is the most disheartning feeling in the world, thinking help is comming and it dosnt for 2 hrs. (my loved one died in front of us).

I agree dont do the overtime or the little extra things we do, our management are medics they can do it. Please put aside your own anger and remember the family member that comes up to you with the tears in their eyes to say thank you for saving their loved one. Thats what makes this job worth while.

I sent to my MLA the story of why I became a paramedic and I have asked for it to be sent to those who need to know what we actually do and to remind them that in small towns like ours what we give up for our community. My self I have for most of the past 14 years given up part of my Christmas day with my family. Maybe everyone else could do the same thing. I always hear write your MLA and I finally did so I will let you know how that goes. One good thing is that my MLA is not a liberal.

Be safe and always be prepared out there, and remember two wrongs don't make a right.

Happy

Thank you Squint for your contribution for Rememberance Day.

As a child who grew up in the military, in the military and married military it is very important to all to understand how important is to never forget those that died for our freedom.

Tomorrow I will be attending our town festivities (yum moose milk at the legion) I would encourage all to make your best effort to attend your communities activities. If you are unable to do so please take the time at 11:11 to have a time of silence and remember your country is free because of those who gave their lives.

happy

can a person become a emt if the crime happened over 20 yrs ago

I first saw this posta while ago and didnt really keep it on my radar and then saw this persons little blab on the front page wondering why people here are so rude to a new commer.

This topic went so wonky I have to wonder why it went to sex offenders, religion and that people here couldn't actually understand that the guy or girl was asking if someone could become an emt after a crime that happened 20 years ago, and some of the most respected people on this site participated in the comments.

I dont understand why 3 people did the -3 on this post, if we are going to use a rating system here then maybe we should be doing it on the people that are really rude and butt holes in their responses not the people that are just asking a simple question, but again there is the bad grammar.

I come here alot and I enjoy reading alot of the posts and comments here and have alot of respect for those that take the time to share information that may make my career or life alittle easier and find it disturbing that people here made some one that has come here feel so unwelcome. Save lives maybe a troll or what ever else you can be called on this site but so could anyone of us.

Please remember we maybe making people not come to our community because of this type activity.

Hee Hee that is to funny. Ak are you sure that you want to be on squints friend list

Well I will try to do this

#1 We use the clam shell (scoop) for our spinals for many reasons and the one reason I like the most is that x-rays can be taken and the pt dosnt have to be disturbed also you dont need to roll the pt as far as you do with the board. We will use the back board when the pt needs to be extracated from a car and there the pt will stay.

#2 I will package the pt in the position of how I found him if he cant tolerate having legs being moved then I will use padding to help keep him in that position also if the neck cant be aligned without pain then there it stays. If his legs are straight there is a blanket that is place between his legs and they are then zap strapped into place. We use the headbed when nessary and then sandbags or towels are placed beside their head. The head is taped down last and I do the big X and to make it easier to do this well I place the O2 tank under the clam shell to creat a good sized space so the tape can be placed farther under for better stabbility.

#3 We will use spider strap on the board but when using the clam shell the straps on that are sufficiant.

#4 If I need to do a spinal the neck will also be embolized along with it. I generally dont tape down the neck as if I need to check a corroid pulse its hard to do and the clam shell realy dosnt have a place to do that easily.

#5 If I need to immobolize the arms I will tuck them under the straps or if on a board Triangular bandages are use to tie them together.

Heres a cute story about hard collars. A young man was in the hospital waiting to be medivaced for possible c spine fractures. I go in and he is laying on the bed coller undone and he is moving around (probably a good indication that all is ok)but me being me I said to him with his girlfriend sitting beside him "You know you might have a fractured neck and if you keep moving around, you may do more damage. If that happens then you could be in a wheel chair for the rest of your life. If that happens you may never have sex again as you know it SO you might want to stay still" The girlfriend stands up and looks him in the eye and yells "STAY STILL". And to think I always thought it was the man that was more worried about his penis.

As a person who had owned all the above makes of personal truck makes I have had less problems with out Ford. A mechanic friend also says that Fords are the best to work on.

I vote for Ford

OMG that is to funny. Mother you better becareful or you to might end up in a padded bathroom with a black light.

SA please keep answering the phone so we can have a good laugh in our office

Happy birthdaysuit day.

Phil Im nude about 1/3 of my day is that enough info for ya or to much

There is more to this story for sure.

But I did watch a documentry on affairs and it came to the conclusion that the male species really will concentrate on the issue of the physical contact and women will concintrate on the emotional contact.

Its to bad if this story is true that 2 people had to loose their lives and the devistation is has caused with in the circle of family and friends.

Monty you sound pretty upset and if this is in fact a true story you should also find councelling so that you dont take the tramp impression into your current or any future relationships you may have.

Happiness

PS I found out 10 years after that my ex husband had an affair while on a course. He never told her that he was married with 2 kids. She was confronted by people who knew he was married and she then ended the affair. The reason that I say this blurb is because yes there are times when the other partner really dosnt know.

My son showed me this and I have to admit this is one bad day for a young boy.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1206185631208

Hey Im canadian and Im hot (well does menopause count)

Your right fire that is a very sad story. I made a promise to my husbands grandfather that he wouldnt die in a hospital as he witness his wife go through a similar situation. I fulfilled my promise and i am glad as this man was a special part of our lives and died as compfortable as possible.

Doing pallative care at home is not for anyone but it you can do it you are truely a special person just as your dr makes your arrival to this world as smooth as possable so should you leaving of the world be as smooth.

Medical systems are falling everywhere and the dyeing dont seem to be a priority which is so sad.

Congradulation to all the Ruff's

R.I.P. to a great actor

Good luck to you both and if you look like your pushing with her and in as much pain she may not swear at you as much.

Happy Birthday AK I love this card so much and give it to all I realy like. There isnt a goat but I hope the lead singer will do.

Happiness

http://www.care2.com/send/card/6072

Im pretty sure I am required by law to stop and if not then moraly I feel I have to stop.

normally at home after work while im cooking dinner and then again after my bath and relaxing

OK this wasnt posted to slam the FF so boys I actully thought it was cute and hoped others would too. As far as Im concerned there was nothing wrong (yes I know the station was closed down by accident but shit happens) with the FF washing an elephant its good PR and you know elephants need to bath to

I cant believe that you Dwayne are even douting your actions. BAD BAD BAD. You are one of the people that come here and post and you actually make sense when doing so until now. So you are questioning your ethical and moral professionalizm (if you correct any of my spelling you will have happiness comming through your computer screen) on an elderly man with a history of refusing transport and YOU found a way around it. This elderly man now has the opportunity to get the proper assement. You my dear man have the ability to look outside of the box and did so on this call. So the other question did you really delay any treatment, yes I know diabetic calls are stay and play calls in general but when your dealing with the elderly the fact that they can crash at any momment makes it a load and go and thats what you did.

Well anywho dont dout yourself MR. Dwayne