| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 12, 1999 Demerit
points cost Ambulance Paramedic his job
An Ontario paramedic lost six-demerit points from his
driver’s licence and then lost his job as a result of an amendment to the Ontario
Ambulance Act. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says the new regulation
discriminates against paramedics. OPSEU is petitioning the Ontario Legislature to change
the amendment to the Act and immediately reinstate any paramedics who have been fired
under the regulation.
In February of this year, the Ministry of Health amended O.
Reg. 501/97 of the Act so that paramedics who accumulate a minimum of six demerit points
on their driving record are considered no longer qualified to do their job. The amendment
resulted in Flamborough paramedic John Konya losing his job on June 17th.
"This is ridiculous," said Jamie Ramage,
president of OPSEU local 256. " The Ministry of Health’s regulation is far more
punitive than the Ministry of Transportation which monitors and enforces traffic safety
under the Highway Traffic Act." The Ministry of Transportation suspends a
person’s driver’s licence at 15 points for a 30-day period, but it doesn’t
cost anyone their job," said the Co-Chair of OPSEU’s Ambulance division.
"The amendment means that John Konya can’t fulfil the job requirement that all
paramedics must be able to drive and attend. Unless the amendment is changed he won’t
qualify for a paramedic’s job until his lost points are reinstated in two years
time."
"Some ambulance operators aren’t happy with this
amendment either and they want to sign this petition," said Ramage. "There are
four other cases pending but the operators have written to the ministry asking for
guidance before they fire anyone."
Ramage says the Ministry encourages our paramedics to speed
and run red lights in the case of emergencies and there are provisions under the act to
protect the public from unsafe driving by paramedics. "We can’t tolerate this
Ministry dictating how our people drive in their off time, they don’t do it to other
emergency services personnel, it’s just blatant discrimination against
paramedics," he said.
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For further information:
Jamie Ramage: 905-774-9483
Bill Trbovich: 416-561-5613 or 793-0092
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