Canadian Union of Public Employees

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union, with over 639,000 members across the country. CUPE represents workers in health care, emergency services, education, early learning and child care, municipalities, social services, libraries, utilities, transportation, airlines and more. We have more than 70 offices across the country, in every province.

CUPE Ambulance Committee of Ontario (CACO)

The CUPE Ambulance Committee of Ontario, also known as “CACO”, serves to unite emergency medical workers of Ontario in co-ordinating and presenting common objectives and matters pertaining to workers in the ambulance sector.  They present matters of legal, policy and legislative concern of emergency medical workers to CUPE Ontario, the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) and CUPE National.  At all time they work for the good and welfare of the members in the ambulance sector and work for the support of the programs of CUPE Ontario, and encourage affiliation to CUPE Ontario.

Regional Paramedic Program of Eastern Ontario (RPPEO)

In February 2009, the Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario was created, combining the best of both the Ottawa and Kingston Base Hospitals. They provide medical direction, education and advice to paramedics and paramedic services in nine upper-tier municipalities across Eastern Ontario.

The communities served by the Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario are Prescott-Russell, Cornwall, Ottawa, The County of Renfrew, Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox and Addington, Hastings County, Prince Edward County and Frontenac County. Combined, this includes nine paramedic services and more than 1200 Paramedics, both Primary Care (PCP) and Advanced Care Paramedics (ACP).

Kingston Central Ambulance Centre

Kingston Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) provides emergency medical communications services twenty four hours a day, seven days a week for an area of approximately 20,200 square kilometers and a population of 516,727 (Stats Canada 2011). This area includes the Counties of Frontenac, Lanark, Leeds & Grenville, Lennox & Addington, Hastings and Prince Edward.

The CACC is staffed by a group of dedicated Ambulance Communications Officers (ACOs) trained in call reception and dispatching of ambulances.

Hastings County Emergency Services

 

Hastings County is the second largest county in Ontario, stretching almost 160 kilometers from the Bay of Quinte to Algonquin Park. It is comprised of 14 member municipalities.

The Emergency Services Department has two components: Paramedic Services and Emergency Management.

Paramedic Services is staffed by a progressive team of highly qualified professionals committed to the highest medical standards in responding to emergencies. The department provides direct ambulance service from six base locations throughout the county. Our service commitment is to respond within 2 minutes of being notified.

Emergency Management is responsible for public education and awareness, emergency preparedness, and response.

Quinte Health Care (QHC)

 

About QHC:

Quinte Health Care provides a wide range of high quality health care services to 160,000 people living in the diverse region of Prince Edward and Hastings Counties and the southeast portion of Northumberland County. Care is provided through four hospitals – QHC Belleville General Hospital, QHC North Hastings Hospital, QHC Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital and QHC Trenton Memorial Hospital – and includes four emergency departments, operating rooms at three sites, a rehabilitation day hospital, children’s treatment centre, ambulatory care clinics, community mental health programs and a range of diagnostic services. There are inpatient beds for acute medical patients, intensive care, obstetrics, paediatrics, mental health, complex continuing care, rehabilitation and surgery.

Government & Council

Workers’ voice in politics, government and community.

  • CUPE members are an important part of our communities. As citizens with a stake in public services, they want and deserve a say in the decisions that affect their neighbours, friends and family.
  • By being active in municipal, provincial and federal politics, CUPE can achieve positive change for our members and all Canadians.
  • We do this work every day, not just during elections. We defend the interests of workers at the bargaining table and in society to ensure our voices are heard. We talk and work with political leaders, coalitions and community partners, and all Canadians to make our communities better places to live.

We encourage all our members to become familiar with all levels of government. Dates/Times and Agendas/Minutes of councils and sub-committees can be accessed on municipal sites.

Federal Minister of Health (MOH):

Ontario Minister of Health & Long Term Care (MOHLTC):

Hastings-Lennox and Addington MPP:

Bay Of Quinte MPP:

Hastings County Council:

Belleville City Council:

Quinte-West Council:

The County of Prince Edward Council:

TEMA – PTSD – Heroes Are Human

The men and women of our emergency, public safety, and military services see tragic events every day.  They witness human suffering up close and it sometimes becomes very difficult to cope with the aftermath.

The aftermath sometimes means that they will suffer with lasting memories that just won’t go away. Recalling the smells, remembering the sounds and reliving the witnessed events sometimes haunt these men and women for life.

Through research, education, training, and through the provision of peer and psychological support, we aim to help these men and women when they need it most.

Help us, help them. 

#IVEGOTYOURBACK911

The #IVEGOTYOURBACK911 campaign started on October 1, 2014.

A group of paramedics, Jill Foster, Stephanie Romano, Denise Laing and Shaun Taylor, were at a point of desperation after hearing the news that 2 more emergency first responders have died by suicide.

Since April 2014, at least  57 emergency first responders and military service individuals across Canada have died by suicide.

The group said enough is enough… something MUST be done! They wanted to attach a human side to first responders and PTSD so they launched the #IVEGOTYOURBACK911 campaign.

The goal of this campaign is to create social awareness and to spread the word by having people post pictures on social media holding a sign that says #IVEGOTYOURBACK911. The campaign was developed out of nothing but love and support for first responders everywhere, as well as, all allied agencies.

Jill Foster says “We aren’t fancy, we don’t have corporate funding, we don’t have major organizations sponsoring us, but what we do have is all of you! We have photos, we have messages, we have amazing stories of courage and perseverance and most of all we have each other!”

This campaign has received an out pour of love and support from around the world. Every day our voice is getting stronger and stronger… let’s keep up this amazing work!

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped spread the word and shown their support.

911 – We Can’t Wait

The Emergency Medical Service is in crisis. We can’t wait for an end to critical ambulance shortages and poor working conditions for the people who deliver paramedicine.

Workers in Emergency Medical Services perform life-saving work. The role of dispatchers and paramedics is critical in responding to 911 calls and ensuring people in crisis receive the medical attention they need.

The EMS sector is under-resourced and underfunded. For too long, our life-saving work has been taken for granted by employers and governments.

We can’t continue with the status quo. CUPE calls on provincial and municipal governments to take immediate action to address the longstanding crisis in the EMS sector.

Visit at https://911wecantwait.ca/