WHEREAS, finding and retaining qualified Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel is difficult for rural municipalities; and

WHEREAS current Health Districts, which fund public EMS services, are paying only $5.00 per hour to EMS personnel on standby and coordinators $500.00 per month; and

WHEREAS these amounts are not high enough, being below minimum wage, to attract qualified people to the positions;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Provincial Government to review current remuneration for standby EMS to increase it to at least minimum wage and coordinator compensation to an adequate level that better reflects workload.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH RESPONSE

I understand that negotiations are continuing between the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations and the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan (HSAS). Once a settlement has been reached, the details regarding hours of work and standby rates will be made known.  As these negotiations are continuing, it is premature to discuss an altemate arrangement at this time.

Regional Health Authorities are responsible for the delivery of health services in their regions, including EMS.  As such, the Regina District Association of Rural Municipalities may wish to be in contact with the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region about this matter.