esignation Letter

2000-10-24

To: Tony Jocko
Area Manager North East
Ministry of Health

Mr. Jocko

I thank you for your quick reply to my e-mail and phone conversation request for a leave of absence. It is with great regret that I must submit my resignation from the Air Ambulance program and the Ontario Public Service. My resignation is effective as of 2000-11-03 @ 1900hrs.

This was a difficult decision to make due to the lack of accurate information or cooperation given to us by the employer. Given our available options and short length of time to make our decisions, I feel forced to resign as a Critical Care Paramedic (air).

To date, the Ministry of Health officials, yourself and Fred Rusk, have not provided any clarification or logic for the privatization and downloading of our services. Provincial cabinet Ministers, Elizabeth Witmer and Tim Hudak, continue to verbalize a message stating they want to provide the best service for every tax payers dollar. There actions do not support their professed convictions. They are brutally aware that the lay-offs of the CCP(a)'s will cost millions of dollars in severance and training. I am shocked and perplexed that the Ministry of Health is forcing out highly trained CCP(a)'s with hundreds of combined years of expertise. Where is this going to leave the patients and families we are serving?

As a CCP(a), I am not willing to take part in a system which is willing to sacrifice health care and safety in order to meet political agendas at the cost of the people. We are committed to helping! As a Father I am disappointed in the treatment that the employer has returned to it's dedicated CCP(a)'s and their families. I feel I am being forced to seek other employment in order to maintain a safe and stable income for the future of my family.

Overall, the Province will certainly regress in the provision of care to the victims of tragedy. Personally, I am committed to provide the best possible care to patients I serve. I regret that I will not be able to assist the entire population of our Province, but at least I will be able to provide my expertise to the people in the City of Timmins and the surrounding area.

Sincerely,

Marc Bechard EMCA, CCP(a)

Fax to:

Leah Casselman, OPSEU
Elizabeth Witmer, Minister of Health and Long Term Care
Tim Hudak, Minister of Northern Development and Mines