By Ian Holmes

Paramedics campaigning to be essential service providers

Mar 24, 2017 | 3:07 PM

NANAIMO — It’s an uphill battle, but BC paramedics are trying to take a successful run at an initiative act petition to be listed as an essential service.

Ambulance Paramedics of BC has until April 10 to get 10 per cent of support from registered voters in all of BC’s 85 ridings in order to earn the recognition.

Nanaimo paramedic Adam Bruce said gaining essential service status would allow them to be included in the Fire and Police Services Collective Bargaining Act.

“90 per cent of people we talk to are shocked to find out we are not actually deemed an essential service, and it’s important for us to inform the public and inform them on that,” Bruce told NanaimoNewsNOW while gathering signatures locally.

He said the designation will help paramedics avoid potential strikes and lockouts and allow for a third-party arbitrator to settle disputes.

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“It’s important for us to be at the same level of other emergency responders in the Province.”

Only one of 10 initiative petitions in BC, the bid to reverse the Harmonized Sales Tax in 2010, has been successfully challenged, according to Elections BC.

Initiative petitions are unique to the province as a means to force change; the mechanism has been in place since 1995.

Paramedics are collecting signatures on Saturday, March 25 in Nanaimo at Maffeo Sutton Park.

Signatures will also be gathered on Saturday and Sunday in Parksvile in the Thrifty Foods Plaza from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ian.holmes@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @reporterholmes