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York Region orders investigation into on-the-job violence against paramedics

York regional council has ordered a report on the problem be created and presented to them by this fall

newmarkettoday.ca
Jan. 29, 2021

York Region Paramedic Services Chief Chris Spearen. Debora Kelly/NewmarketToday
York regional council has heeded calls for an investigation into the issue of violence against local paramedics while on the job.

On Thursday, councillors passed a motion ordering a report on the extent of the issue be created and presented to them by this fall.

Last week, both the head of the York Region Paramedic Services and the president of the paramedics' union called on the region to take a hard look at the problem, as Peel Region has done.

On Thursday, Markham Regional Councillor Don Hamilton agreed that more needs to be done.

"I had a nice long conversation with (general manager of paramedic services) Lisa Gonsalves and (paramedic chief) Chris Spearen, and they really feel that to protect the interests of their workers, we need to have some additional recommendations brought forward to this council," said Hamilton.

According to Spearen, violence against paramedics -- whether it be verbal abuse, physical assault and sexual harassment  --  is a regular part of life as a paramedic. It's so common that many ambulance workers have accepted it as an unavoidable hazard of the job.

During 2020 there were only 17 reported cases of violence against paramedics in York Region, but Spearen is convinced the true number of incidents is much, much higher.

"This is an underreported issue, but we know from several reports ... that 98 per cent of paramedics experience abuse during their career. This is a growing issue, and it has an enormous impact on paramedic wellbeing," he told council.

He and CUPE Local 905 president Katherine Grzejszczak called on York Region to follow the lead of Peel Region, which did an investigation of the problem and shared its final report with York two weeks ago.

Now that York Region will be doing its own investigation, Spearen thanked councillors.

"Thank you for letting us bring this forward. Our staff has been facing some trying times during the pandemic. As patience among the public with the pandemic decreases, some of these episodes increase. So I appreciate being able to bring forward a report in the fall."