BC Paramedics Workload

              The union representing paramedics and emergency dispatchers in B-C says staffing shortages are at crisis levels and affecting ambulance service provincewide. The Ambulance Paramedics and Emergency Dispatchers of B-C say the province is dealing with an unprecedented level of vacant paramedic positions and dozens of paramedic units have been out of service during night shifts across the Sea to Sky, Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley regions. President Cameron Eby says the employer is having to rely on overtime to fill shifts, or even paying to fly rural paramedics into urban areas to cover shortages. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the province has added 119 new paramedic positions since the N-D-P came to power and says the government is in contract talks with the union.