MPP wants award for paramedics

Private Member's Bill Up For Second Reading Feb. 19

Ontario will begin to honour the bravery of paramedics, just as it does for police officers and firefighters, if a private member's bill is passed at Queen's Park.

The Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery Act was introduced in the legislature in December by Lambton-Kent- Middlesex MPP Maria Van Bommel.

It's up for second reading on Feb. 19.

Van Bommel said she was approached by the parents of a paramedic who died while on duty in Chatham-Kent in 2007.

The MPP said the parents made the case that there currently is no provincial award for paramedics.

Paramedics are relatively new in Ontario, but communities are relying on them more and more, Van Bommel said.

"Now, we always expect there to be a paramedic with the ambulance."

She said the bill has been gathering support.

"I certainly expect that we can look forward to some success with this," she said.

Jeff Brooks, manager of quality assurance for Lambton County's ambulance service, said it would welcome the award.

The Association for Emergency Medical Services of Ontario issues the McNally Award to honour paramedics in the province who have risked their lives to rescue or protect others from harm.

"But," Brooks said, "it's not a provincial (government) award."

Ontario does have awards to recognize the bravery of police officers and firefighters but, Brooks said, "but there has never been anything" for ambulance workers.

Brooks and the late Clarence Lenting received the McNally Award in 2007, for an ambulance call several years ago in which they entered a water-filled ditch to reach a patient who was trapped in a burning vehicle.

Other local recipients of the McNally Award include paramedics Abby Brown and Blake Smith.

They subdued a knife-wielding attacker who forced his way into the back of their ambulance and stabbed a patient.

If Van Bommel's private member's bill passes second reading Feb. 19, it will go before a legislative committee.

After that, it would have to pass third reading in the legislature and receive royal assent before the award could be established.