Thread by @PhilipTurnbull

Celebrating the UCP “Red Tape Awareness Week” by looking at the changes to EMS dispatch *in the middle of a global pandemic* that WILL cost lives.
cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

"Tara Veer, the mayor of Red Deer, says the consolidated system means fire departments will not automatically be dispatched to an emergency call and that those crews are often the first to arrive, given the strain on the ambulance system. "

In 911 dispatch, seconds matter.

Required listening on @ryanjespersen #realtalkrj
Fire Chief Roundtable:

4 Mayors Roundtable:


"If I saw any evidence that showed that this would actually improve service or save money I would reverse my position" @nenshi #yyc

"We truly are sounding the alarm that this will affect us all" @TaraVeer

"We have a very frustrating relationship with the province right now" @DonaldKScott

"I think they've come in and they want to show who's boss" @Spearmac

(This is clearly what winning trust looks like) 🤔

“We’ve been informed that there is no plan, nor is there a plan to have a plan for what we call co-evaluation, which means that the police, the fire and the EMS dispatchers … simultaneously collect the information from the caller” 🤯🤯

globalnews.ca/news/7569244/a…

"This consolidation will result in longer wait times for an EMS crew to arrive at the location of a person in need of medical attention and job losses across the province. These reckless decisions....need to stop." Alberta Firefighter's Association
calgary.ctvnews.ca/a-short-sighte…

@shandro says this will save $6M. That's peanuts compared to *actually saving lives*.

Even if those savings are real, Kenney's Keystone XL "investment" could have paid for 250 years of the current 911 dispatch model. 250 years!

PLUS Lethbridge and Red Deer and Wood Buffalo have offered to reimburse the province for the cost --- so don't tell us it's about the money.

It is COMPLETELY irresponsible to be making such a major change in the midst of a pandemic. At the very least, the UCP should have pressed pause and listened to the concerns of mayors, paramedics, and firefighters.

But they didn't. People will die needlessly from this. #ableg