Proposed Budget Fallout: EMS Say They Need More Paramedics
Posted January 25, 2011 8:36 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
In order to meet response time targets, Toronto EMS say they need 90 new paramedics over the next three years, but finding the money in Rob Ford’s proposed budget remains a troubling challenge.
“The increase in demand over the last 8 years is about 21%, and the increase in paramedic strength is less than 1%, so it goes without saying,” Toronto EMS Chief, Bruce Farr, told CityNews Tuesday.
“We’re making it known that we need more paramedics here at Toronto EMS.”
Ford promised during his ambitious campaign to slash city staff by 3%. In his proposed budget, however, city staffing will actually increase by 48 positions. Most of those, however, will be with the TTC.
Ford also pitched to hire more police officers, but the budget proposes a new-hire freeze.
Even more troubling to some, are proposed cuts to TTC service when the mayor promised no major service cuts.
Councillor Gord Perks vented his frustrations on Tuesday.
“One day it’s more police, the next day it’s fewer,” he said. “One day it’s fare increases, the next day it’s not…I’ve never seen such a chaotic budget.”
Toronto budget chief, Coun. Mike Del Grande admits pleasing everyone is challenging, if not impossible.
“There’s a fraction of the councillors who just don’t like this budget in any way shape or form and they would like us to somehow spend more money. Our challenge is affordability.”
