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Update - Local 250 continues fight against firemedic model November 5, 2003 The firemedic model has become the most important issue in the municipal election in Owen Sound. The model proposed by the city would merge the jobs of firefighters and paramedics into one "firemedics" profession. In an editorial today, the Owen Sound Sun Times said: "In this election the firemedic model proposed by the city has become the central issue and it offers us a window into the leadership question." The editorial goes on to say "we can't recall there being a great demand for the merging of these two professions. We believe some of the city's energy could have been used more effectively by tackling other issues. . . .residents of Owen Sound aren't interested in being guinea pigs." Regular columnist Jim Merriam said the city "stepped over a line" by approving an expenditure of almost $2,000 on an ad which, in promoting the firemedic model, used taxpayers' money to support the incumbent councillors and Mayor Rick Beaney, who support the model. Only Councillor Ruth Lovell, who is running for Mayor, opposes the firemedic model (and the ad expenditure). The paper also reports that Duncan Class, from the lobby group Citizens Advocating Responsible Emergency Health Service, told Grey County Council about several "spectacular failures" of the firemedic model in the United States; to which Owen Sound's representatives on County Council responded "with anger." Opponents of the firemedic plan --besides Lovell and Class -- include seven candidates for city council, at least three Owen Sound emergency room doctors, Dr. Martin McNamara of Simcoe County (who has studied at least 250 such mergers worldwide), and the many Owen Sound voters who have contacted our regional office in support of local paramedics.
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