Toronto EMS paramedics refuse overtime work
Close to 150 unionized paramedics are boycotting any overtime work in order to bring attention to Toronto’s understaffing of emergency service workers.
Ken Horton, a 30-year Toronto EMS veteran and CUPE Local 416 steward, tells the Toronto Star he hopes this refusal will force the city to hire 200 more paramedics. Horton argues that wait times have gotten worse over the past decade, saying, “We’ve had instances where people will wait eight hours for an ambulance.”
“It’s ridiculous for people to say that this is a world-class ambulance system.”
The decision to stop working overtime was made by paramedics at an emergency meeting last Wednesday, and since then, 150 workers took their names off that specific contact list. However, the City of Toronto operating budget report puts the average EMS paramedic response time to critical calls at 8:59 minutes in 62.9 per cent of cases in 2011, as quoted in the Star. Yet, in the same report, assisted emergency calls have increased from an average of 15,848 a month in 2002 to 19,800 in 2011, a 24.9 per cent jump — a number Horton says cannot be covered by the current staffing numbers of Toronto’s union paramedics.
Man, 90, does CN Tower Edgewalk
A 90-year-old Mississauga man, and World War II veteran, strutted along the CN Tower’s EdgeWalk to celebrate his birthday.
Michael Welch, who turns 91 in Dec., told CityNews he was inspired to do the EdgeWalk after seeing photos of his daughter’s experience 116 stories up.
“I love heights,” said Welch, to CityNews. “I said I want to do that so they gave it to me as a birthday present.”
Welch appeared unfazed by the altitude, likely due to his experience as a fighter pilot in the war. On the EdgeWalk website, the only age or ability limitations state thrill seekers must be over a certain height, under 310 lbs, and older than 13.
New Obama Ad Attacks Romney re: Big Bird
First, Big Bird appears on SNL, and now, this? A new Obama For America ad attacks GOP challenger Mitt Romney for his controversial anti-PBS remarks from last Wednesday’s presidential debate.
The political ad skewers Romney for reportedly singling out PBS’ government funding as an economic drain or risk for the U.S., as opposed to looking to correct the behaviour of those on Wall Street.
“Big, yellow, a menace to our economy,” says the narrator. “Mitt Romney knows it’s not Wall Street you have to worry about it, it’s Sesame Street.”
At the end of the message, Big Bird sits, asleep with his teddy bear, as the narrator says, “Mitt Romney, taking on our enemies no matter where they nest.” For the record, Obama approved this ad. Seriously.
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Joanna Adams writes about news and entertainment for Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at†@nowstarringTO.
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