Monuments Act Reintroduced

Late last week Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Ron Lemieux reintroduced legislation that would set up three foundations to create tributes in the memory of peace officers, firefighters and workers who have lost their lives on the job. The Firefighters, Peace Officers and Workers Memorial Foundations Act was originally introduced prior to the spring provincial election, and at that time was sharply criticized by paramedics across the province.

The legislation that was proposed by Minister Lemieux last week is the same legislation that was being considered before the May election. Undoubtedly that will draw the ire of many EMS providers, especially those who took time to contact their MLAs and Government to express frustration and anger over the "exclusion" of paramedics in this initiative.

While it's disappointing to see this bill reintroduced without change, it doesn't mean those who voiced concern in the spring weren't heard. In fact Mr. Lemieux was very conscious of the criticism lobbied toward previous efforts to enact this legislation. As a result, staff from the Minister's office called us 2 days before Lemieux rose in the Legislature to speak to this Bill last week, suggesting they wanted to give us a "head's up" in recognition of the condemnation the government had received earlier in the year.

It's likely the phone call was placed to allow the Minister and his government colleagues to deflect criticism they might encounter suggesting paramedics had not been consulted or informed of this initiative. But that said, Mr. Lemieux's assistant was accepting of my suggestion that paramedics needed to be included in future plans associated with the memorials and assured me that she would bring my concerns to the Minister's attention.

At the risk of being condemned by paramedics who spoke so honestly and passionately this past spring about being "left out" of this initiative, I respectfully offer the following for consideration:

1. The costs associated with the planning, design, construction and ongoing maintenance of each memorial will be very high...so much so that paramedics may not be well positioned to go it on our own.
2. If one can look past the title of "workers", I suspect there would be genuine interest from other parties to include paramedics in this process. As long as we have a voice, we have opportunity to ensure our expectations are heard and needs considered. What's most important is that our lost colleagues are not forgotten.
   
3. For the most part, this is a "big labour" initiative. I mean that with no disrespect, but simply to suggest that we encourage our EMS labour organizations to work with other unions to come to an acceptable outcome.

As the legislation moves forward we can focus our energies on fighting for a separate monument for paramedics or we work toward developing some alliances to ensure paramedics killed in the line of duty are remembered with the dignity and respect they so very much deserve. In my very humble opinion, option number one would likely make your head hurt.