The recent decision to dissolve Peel Region presents significant challenges to paramedic recruitment and retention. The move creates uncertainty that will exacerbate the shortage of paramedics in Peel.
Ontario currently faces a shortage of paramedics, with 1,000 open positions and an estimated annual deficit of 300 - 400 paramedics. Peel Region, home to 850 paramedics, has been a stable employer in this uncertain landscape. However, the dissolution threatens this stability.
Before the dissolution, Peel Paramedic Services struggled with recruitment. Despite offering stable jobs, favorable working conditions, strong union-management relations, and an established collective agreement, they could only fill 68 out of 100 positions last year, losing some recruits to other employers even before completing orientation.
The dissolution's timing is particularly problematic. Paramedic hiring in Ontario is an annual cycle, typically starting in December or January, with new paramedics starting work from April to June. With the dissolution scheduled before this cycle, Peel's paramedics face uncertainty about their future employment. This uncertainty will lead many to seek positions elsewhere, creating a significant risk of losing experienced paramedics by June 2024.
Peel's paramedics, not wanting to leave their future to chance, are likely to apply to other services amidst this uncertainty. With 51 other ambulance services in Ontario offering more stability, there is a real risk of a mass exodus from Peel, potentially leaving the region without sufficient paramedics to deliver essential life-saving services in the summer of 2024.
The dissolution of Peel Region and the lack of security being experienced by Peel's Paramedics will lead to a critical shortage of paramedics in the area. To avoid this, immediate steps must be taken to demonstrate stability and retain the skilled paramedics vital to the community's health and safety. Failure to address these concerns could result in a severe impact on emergency medical services in the region, putting lives at risk.
It is imperative for local and provincial governments, the transition board, and the community at large to work together in ensuring that the transition does not compromise the quality and availability of Paramedic Care in Peel. The future well-being of the region's residents depends on the actions taken today to mitigate the risks posed by this significant change in the structure of emergency medical services.