Bill 8 (7 May 2007)
The Paramedics Act
Committee
From Human Services Committee Hansard - 7 May 2007
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Mr. McMorris: — Yes, I’ll have a couple of questions, I guess, seeing that there is no opening statement and we have a bit of time. This paramedics Act, it’s been a long time in the making, roughly about 10 years. Can you tell me what has been the holdup? And why has it come in front of us in the year 2007 when there’s certainly been a call for it for many years prior?
Hon. Mr. Taylor: — I think I’m going to call on our director of community hospitals and emergency services, acute and emergency services branch, Mr. Patrick O’Byrne, to help with answering some of these questions. Mr. O’Byrne has been very actively engaged in the development of the Act. And again in the interests of time to make sure that it’s not the minister who tends to go on and on about these things, and we can simplify it. And if I have anything to add, I will. Mr. O’Byrne.
Mr. O’Byrne: — The process of developing the legislation began through consultations with the stakeholders in 2000 and proceeded to the beginning of the drafting of the legislation in 2002. As we moved along the process of developing the legislation, there were some stakeholders, particularly the firefighters — the Saskatchewan chiefs of firefighters and the Saskatchewan Professional Fire Fighters Association — had some concerns about content and their being regulated by the Bill.
Through a consultative process with these interest groups, we’ve been able to gain a consensus among the Saskatchewan Medical Association, the paramedics, the SEMSA [Saskatchewan Emergency Medical Services Association] members, and the firefighters, and all of these parties are now interested in proceeding with this legislation. And yes, it has taken some time to get everyone on board, but I think this has been very well-spent time, and we’ve gathered a consensus, which is often difficult in health care.
Mr. McMorris: — Well that’s interesting because it started . . . Well the start of the legislation was seven years ago, and everyone was on board. What were the concerns then voiced by the, for example, the fire chiefs or the professional fire fighters association, and how has that been rectified to see the Bill go forward now?
Mr. O’Byrne: — The firefighters were concerned that they were being regulated by the emergency medical technicians, by the paramedics, without their involvement in the regulatory process. However a series of meetings was held with the firefighters, and now we’ve consolidated our bylaws.
It is very unusual for the regulations that follow the legislation to be completed before the legislation actually proceeds. But in this case actually, the regulations, the subsequent regulations for the Act are already completed and agreed upon, and these regulations ensure that the firefighters have an active role in the administration of the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics.
Mr. McMorris: — Yes, that is . . . And I don’t know. I mean I can’t draw on a lot of experience from Bills that have passed, but that is unusual then to have the regulations written before the legislation is passed. But I guess in order to find an agreement, that was what was necessary, I take it then.
Mr. O’Byrne: — Yes.
Mr. McMorris: — Okay. I don’t think I have a whole lot more questions on this. That’s fine.
Back to 2007 Spring Session
Bill 8 (7 May 2007)
The Paramedics Act
Committee
From Human Services Committee Hansard - 7 May 2007
To view this section on video, click here, and start play at 1:29:04.
Windows Media Player is required.
Mr. McMorris: — Yes, I’ll have a couple of questions, I guess, seeing that there is no opening statement and we have a bit of time. This paramedics Act, it’s been a long time in the making, roughly about 10 years. Can you tell me what has been the holdup? And why has it come in front of us in the year 2007 when there’s certainly been a call for it for many years prior?
Hon. Mr. Taylor: — I think I’m going to call on our director of community hospitals and emergency services, acute and emergency services branch, Mr. Patrick O’Byrne, to help with answering some of these questions. Mr. O’Byrne has been very actively engaged in the development of the Act. And again in the interests of time to make sure that it’s not the minister who tends to go on and on about these things, and we can simplify it. And if I have anything to add, I will. Mr. O’Byrne.
Mr. O’Byrne: — The process of developing the legislation began through consultations with the stakeholders in 2000 and proceeded to the beginning of the drafting of the legislation in 2002. As we moved along the process of developing the legislation, there were some stakeholders, particularly the firefighters — the Saskatchewan chiefs of firefighters and the Saskatchewan Professional Fire Fighters Association — had some concerns about content and their being regulated by the Bill.
Through a consultative process with these interest groups, we’ve been able to gain a consensus among the Saskatchewan Medical Association, the paramedics, the SEMSA [Saskatchewan Emergency Medical Services Association] members, and the firefighters, and all of these parties are now interested in proceeding with this legislation. And yes, it has taken some time to get everyone on board, but I think this has been very well-spent time, and we’ve gathered a consensus, which is often difficult in health care.
Mr. McMorris: — Well that’s interesting because it started . . . Well the start of the legislation was seven years ago, and everyone was on board. What were the concerns then voiced by the, for example, the fire chiefs or the professional fire fighters association, and how has that been rectified to see the Bill go forward now?
Mr. O’Byrne: — The firefighters were concerned that they were being regulated by the emergency medical technicians, by the paramedics, without their involvement in the regulatory process. However a series of meetings was held with the firefighters, and now we’ve consolidated our bylaws.
It is very unusual for the regulations that follow the legislation to be completed before the legislation actually proceeds. But in this case actually, the regulations, the subsequent regulations for the Act are already completed and agreed upon, and these regulations ensure that the firefighters have an active role in the administration of the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics.
Mr. McMorris: — Yes, that is . . . And I don’t know. I mean I can’t draw on a lot of experience from Bills that have passed, but that is unusual then to have the regulations written before the legislation is passed. But I guess in order to find an agreement, that was what was necessary, I take it then.
Mr. O’Byrne: — Yes.
Mr. McMorris: — Okay. I don’t think I have a whole lot more questions on this. That’s fine.
Back to 2007 Spring Session