OPSEU L679 Manitoulin-Sudbury Paramedics/PTS

09/05/2026

Have a safe long weekend.

Manitoulin island is again downstaffed.
Short 1 Paramedic Friday day shift.
Short 1 Paramedic Friday night shift.
Short 1 Paramedic Saturday day shift.

This is not a good streak to continue.
In this area, if one Ambulance isn't staffed properly the next closes one could take 30-35 minutes to get there. In an emergency that feels like forever.

Our communities deserve better. The residence and visitors to this area deserve timely access to emergency services.

The staffing crisis doesn't make the news but it should become part of discussions happening during municipal elections.
Your local candidate can have an impact in resolving this crisis.

Ask local candidates what they will do to help ensure a fully staffed Paramedic service. Lives depend on it.

08/31/2026

Downstaffing is occurring on a regular basis but is it being reported to the communities impacted?
Is the board overseeing this service aware of the current issues? (Downstaffing, staffing crisis, major recruitment and retention issues).

Your local candidates could be the next one to serve on the board overseeing the Paramedic service.

Where is the downstaff today?

Info about Manitoulin-Sudbury Paramedic service.
-Paramedics in this area operate out of 13 different locations.
-18 different municipalities and 12 First Nation communities rely on this service
-45,000 square km coverage area
-over the last 5 years, the call volume has gone up by 31%.
-12 hours per day of additional 911 coverage has been added over the last 5 years.

When downstaffing occurs, more remote communities could have significantly delayed emergency medical responses.

08/29/2026

The normal work week for full time Paramedics is 42 hours. The current system depends of many Paramedics to work 54-60 plus hours per week. This comes with significant sacrifice. These Paramedics are taking time away from friends and family to serve the public. The more they work equals higher exposure to both physical and mental injury. Because the system depends on Paramedics voluntarily working overtime, it occasionally backfires and results in downstaffing. Again, downstaffing means less than the standard or expected level of Paramedic service.
The system requires change. Every day the staffing crisis continues there is a potential to negatively impact communities and the Paramedics attempting to serve them.
Recruitment, rentention, recognition and respect is required.

08/15/2026

Without a plan to improve recruitment and maintain or retain current staff, being short essential resources will continue.
Showing respect and recognition to Paramedics needs to be the top priority if we want to properly service our communities.
Yet another day on Manitoulin without a fully staff Paramedic service.

08/07/2026

Maybe positive change will occur after the municipal election.
The board overseeing Paramedic services, in the Manitoulin-Sudbury area, come from municipal representatives from across this area.

Ask your local candidates if they plan on helping solve the severe Paramedic shortage.

2019- 54 Part time staff, no full time vacancies

May 2026- 45 Part time staff, 7 full time vacancies

August 2026- 37 Part time staff, still 7 full time vacancies

Overtime, burnout and downstaffing are at an all time high.

2023 resulted in approximately $540,000 in overtime cost. Who knows what it is now??

Southern Ontario Paramedic services offer starting wages far beyond ours. For example, Peel Paramedics offer just over 22% more per hour.

This is a crisis and real solutions are needed.

08/05/2026

OPSEU Local 679 is proud to represent and support our PTS members. Otherwise known as Non Urgent Patient Transportation (NUPT).

These hard working, dedicated professions provide safe transportation between medical facilities in the Manitoulin-Sudbury area.
Frequently making multiple trips per day with multiple patients between Manitoulin and Health Sciences North in Sudbury.
These workers are making a difference everyday. Assisting those in need, connecting patients to services that are a long distance away and helping the health care system in Northern Ontario.

They are 100% vital for the operation of our Paramedic Servives, to the hospitals in the area and to the residences/visitors/patients within the Manitoulin-Sudbury catchment.

If you see a vehicle that looks like an Ambulance driving the highways, it is likely NUPT.

Thank you for doing great work and serving your communities.

07/26/2026

July 26,3026
Another day with less than the minimum level of frontline service. Fingers crossed we all make it through another downstaffing event.

March 2026-service enhancement announcement for a second night shift Ambulance in Wikwemikong FN. Actually started and staffed July 5th, 2026.

We are in the middle of the worst frontline Paramedic staffing crisis of this generation. Everyday we are getting by on a hope and a prayer.

Currently there are 7 full time vacant positions. Some of them have been empty for more than a year.

We have 15 less part time Paramedics than we had 7 years ago.

We are moving backwards.
Action needed.
What needs to happen for things to change?

07/22/2026

OPSEU Local 679 Paramedics hear and understand the concerns of our southern counterparts. We understand the difficult position you are in. We support your drive to improve the system and take care of the frontline professionals. Stay the course and stick together.
Solidarity.

Essex-Windsor paramedics move closer to a strike as CUPE 2974 calls for a No Board report WINDSOR, ON — (COMMUNITYWIRE) — After 6 months of negotiations failed to resolve chronic staffing challenges at Essex-Windsor EMS, last week CUPE 2974 requested a No Board report from the Ontario Ministry o...

07/20/2026

Why is recruitment and rentention so bad for Manitoulin-Sudbury Paramedics?

Not a simple answer to this question. Many factors come into play.

1. Manitoulin-Sudbury area Paramedic wages are a minimum of 20% less then Full Time fire or Police wages in the area. That number doesn't explain the full scale of things because their benefits and pension are extremely far superior to those of Paramedics. We are losing qualified staff there.

2. Manitoulin-Sudbury area Paramedic wages are up to 35% less than some Southern Ontario Paramedic services. We are losing lots of qualified Paramedics there.

3. Work conditions of a Paramedic are very physically and mentally demanding. Frequently in remote areas with no backup, visiting people on the worst days of their lives. We have lost many qualified Paramedics there.

4. Work geography-our Paramedics work in stations across the 45,000 sq km coverage area. This requires many hours of driving before and after a 12 hour shift. This has taking a toll on many Paramedics; physically, mentally and financially.

5. Affordable housing- due to the large coverage area, the cost and availability of housing has been difficult for Paramedics (as it is with almost everyone).

In the last 6 years OPSEU Local 679 has lost,
- 9 Paramedics to career ending injury or illness,
-17 Full Time Paramedics to resignations,
-43 Part time Paramedics to resignations,
-only 7 Paramedics to retirement.

Frontline Paramedics are working hundreds of hours of overtime to staff Ambulances. Without frontline Paramedics putting life, family and other commitments on pause, the downstaffing issue would be 10 times worse.

We are not short Paramedics because they are on vacation at the beach.

We are short Paramedics because they are not being treated as valued Emergency service personnel. They are not given the support, benefits, pay, pensions and respect they deserve.