Tuesday, May 27, 2008
** Calgary union boss relinquishes post
** Colorado selected as new site of US National EMS Memorial
** Newfoundland councillor accuses province of dragging feet on 911 service
CANADA NEWS
** After some 18 years in the position, Calgary union president Bruce Robb has stepped down. That is the word from the Calgary Herald (May 26) which said Robb will be replaced by four year Calgary EMS veteran Rick Fraser. Fraser assumes the conn just one year before the current labour contract expires. Medics settled their latest deal in 2007 with a 12 per cent wage hike over three years;practitioners had been seeking 18 per cent.
** The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is dragging its feet when it comes to implementing across the board 911. That, at least, is the contention of one Gander city councillor. The Beacon (Brian Scott/May 26) quoted Carl Smith as saying a proposed study on the issue is just a stall tactic. Smith made his comments after Minister of Municipal Affairs Dave Denine said the spring budget will fund a consultant to figure out how best to go about instituting the service. Smith said both a 1993 scrutiny and a 2005 auditor-general’s report have already fully dissected the matter. Denine, however, said technology has changed significantly since the reports came out. 911 currently exists only in Corner Brook, the Bay of Islands, Humber Valley, St. John’s and areas in northeast Avalon and Labrador west.
UNITED STATES NEWS
** The National EMS Memorial is moving from Roanoke, Virginia to Colorado Springs, Colorado. WDBJ (May 25) said the change comes after some 16 years. Originally established in the city where the nation’s first volunteer rescue squad arose, the commemoration’s new venue will also see a monument built for prehospital LODDs. The structure is expected to be completed by 2010.
