EMERGENCY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE

The Emergency and Protective Services Committee met on Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 9:35 a.m., in the Council Chamber, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton.

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*See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

Chaired by Councillor P. Palleschi

Regional Chair Kolb arrived 9:36 a.m.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION EPSC-4-2006:

That the agenda for May 25, 2006 Emergency and Protective Services Committee meeting be amended to include an oral presentation by HealthAnalytics to provide an update on the Paramedic Services Master Plan;

And further, that Communications - Item 4a be dealt with prior to the presentation of HealthAnalytics;

And further, that the agenda for the May 25, 2006 Emergency and Protective Services Committee meeting be approved, as amended.

3. REPORTS

a) Regional Fire Coordination - Annual Report

RECOMMENDATION EPSC-5-2006:

That the 2005 Mutual Aid Fire Coordinator's Report attached as Appendix I to the report of the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor, dated March 21, 2006, titled "Regional Fire Coordination - Annual Report", be received;

And further, that Garry Morden, Fire Chief of the City of Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services be thanked for his efforts as Regional Fire Coordinator in 2005.

Councillor Morrison arrived 9:43 a.m.

b) Peel Regional Paramedic Services 2005 Annual Report

Received

Peter Dundas, Director of Ambulance and Emergency Programs, provided a brief overview of the Peel Regional Paramedic Services 2005 Annual Report.

Councillor Morrison requested Peter Dundas to provide a breakdown of the emergency response times specifically for the Town of Caledon at a future meeting, including an analysis of response times when the two ambulances stationed in Caledon are already dispatched or occupied by offload delays at area hospitals. She expressed concern about adequate ambulance coverage in Caledon because of its large geographic size. Councillor Morrison also stressed the importance of having the provincial government recognize fire services as first responders. Peter Dundas undertook to provide the breakdown of the response times as requested.

Peter Dundas informed the Committee that the program cost for 2005 was $32,665,590 representing a $143.43 cost per service hour. He stated that 28 per cent was funded by the Province in 2005; for 2006 the Province has committed to 40 per cent funding with an increase to 50 per cent funding by 2008.

Councillor Morrison asked if staff were prepared to make recommendations regarding the additional provincial funding for ambulance services. R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor, indicated that the extra money is subject to a larger financial analysis by the Region of Peel Finance Department. He informed the members of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee (EPSC) that a report will be presented to a future General Committee meeting regarding the overall Regional budget and will provide options to Council regarding how the money will be applied not only to ambulance programs but also to other Regional programs.

c) Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Funding Update and History

Received

d) Extension of Agreement with Humber College to Provide Advanced Care Paramedic Training

RECOMMENDATION EPSC-6-2006:

That the existing agreement with Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning (Humber), School of Health Sciences be extended for an additional three (3) year period to provide advanced care paramedicine education;

And further, that the agreement reflect the new tuition fees for the three year period;

And further, that the agreement be executed by the Regional Corporation's duly authorized signing officers;

And further, that this extension be approved as an exception to section 5.2.2 of the Purchasing By-law 62-2001.

Item 4a was dealt with.

4. COMMUNICATIONS

a) Hazel McCallion, Mayor, City of Mississauga, Letter dated April 7, 2006, Responding to an E-mail Correspondence from R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor, Region of Peel, dated March 22, 2006, on the Scope of Work of the Peel Regional Ambulance Services (PRAS) 10 Year Plan Study Being Conducted by HealthAnalytics

Received

R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor, provided a brief overview of the communication item titled "Scope of Work of the Peel Regional Ambulance Services (PRAS) 10 Year Plan Study Being Conducted by HealthAnalytics". He informed the Committee the presentation of HealthAnalytics on the agenda for this meeting would clarify many of the issues raised by Mayor McCallion in her letter dated April 7, 2006.

Councillor Palleschi pointed out that the Regional budget for ambulance programs has increased from approximately $18 million to $32 million over the past five years. He informed the Committee that the Region has to look at other options to decrease the cost to taxpayers while improving the existing ambulance service.

Councillor Mullin requested Regional staff and HealthAnalytics consultants to continue to liaise with Fire Chiefs to develop recommendations that are realistic and cost effective. She stated that the link between the Fire Department and Ambulance Services is important and that the Region should consider the possibility of integrating the two services, where possible, to avoid the costly acquisition of property to build new ambulance stations.

Fire Chief Garry Morden, City of Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services, commented that fire and ambulance services are doing an excellent job of successfully working together. He indicated that a better job could be done on reporting accomplishments, including accountability to the taxpayers and providing a seamless service in the Region.

Councillor Morrison expressed her concerns that the Province is ignoring the request to have the Fire Department recognized as first responders. She asked Regional Chair Kolb to urge the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton (GTAH) Mayors and Regional Chairs Group to lobby on behalf of municipalities for recognition the importance of Fire Departments as first responders in case of emergencies.

Further, Councillor Lyons requested that when the recommendation to have the Fire Department recognized as first responders is brought forward, the Province should be made aware of the reduced cost and time to deliver the service because of the initiatives by the Region of Peel to provide first responder training.

Additional Item - 3e

e) Paramedic Services Master Plan Update (Oral)
Presentation by Mic Gunderson, President, and Todd Hatley, Chief Operating Officer, HealthAnalytics

Received

Mic Gunderson, President, and Todd Hatley, Chief Operating Officer, HealthAnalytics provided a high-level summary and an update on the Paramedic Services Master Plan. HealthAnalytics considered a few options for the Paramedic Services Master Plan including: Fire Station Model; Ambulance Station Model; Fluid Deployment Model; and the Hybrid Model. The consultants determined that the Ambulance Station Model and the Fluid Deployment Model would not undergo further analysis as they did not achieve the objectives of the study. However, Fire Station and Hybrid Models would undergo more detailed operational and financial analyses in this study.

Mic Gunderson identified the preliminary recommendations for the Paramedic Services Master Plan as follows: reducing hospital offload delays; improving dispatch call triage process; recognizing existing fire department resources; and establishing appropriate response time targets.

Councillor Mullin indicated that the report was good and requested the consultants consider preparing two separate scenarios regarding response times for ambulance and response times for fire. This would allow the Region to present its case to the Province regarding the efficiencies the Region of Peel has achieved in terms of fire services as first responder. Mic Gunderson acknowledged the value of data comparing ambulance to fire response times.

Councillor Mullin viewed the recommendation to place paramedics in emergency departments during peak times positively given that this would allow ambulances back in service more rapidly. She asked the consultants if the financial implication of having this option was considered. Todd Hatley, Chief Operating Officer, HealthAnalytics, stated that the Region could realize some savings with this option. He estimated that it would cost about $109 per hour for every two patients, a decrease from about $300 per hour with the existing set-up. Councillor Mullin requested the consultants to incorporate this analysis in the final report.

Regional Chair Kolb noted that the consultants met with the three Fire Chiefs and added that it is essential that the consultants meet with the union representatives from the Fire and Paramedics. Regional Chair Kolb and Councillor Palleschi requested the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor to set up a meeting between HealthAnalytics, the three area municipal Fire Chiefs and union representatives from Fire and the Paramedics to review issues related to shared facilities and cohabitation prior to finalizing the recommendations contained in the Paramedics Services Master Plan.

4. COMMUNICATIONS

a) Hazel McCallion, Mayor, City of Mississauga, Letter dated April 7, 2006, Responding to an E-mail Correspondence from R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor, Region of Peel, dated March 22, 2006, on the Scope of Work of the Peel Regional Ambulance Services (PRAS) 10 Year Plan Study Being Conducted by HealthAnalytics

This item was dealt with earlier in the meeting

5. IN CAMERA MATTERS

6. OTHER BUSINESS

7. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor informed the Committee members that there is a meeting conflict for the June 15, 2006 Special EPSC meeting and noted that the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Forum was scheduled on the same day. The Committee agreed to hold the Special EPSC meeting on July 6, 2006 at 8:00 a.m. prior to the Regional Council meeting to consider the final draft report and recommendation of HealthAnalytics regarding the Paramedic Services Master Plan.

Subsequently, members of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee also requested that the final report be presented to Regional Council for approval at its meeting on August 3, 2006. Councillor Mullin requested that no other delegations be received at the August 3, 2006 Regional Council meeting to accommodate the presentation by HealthAnalytics.

The next Special Meeting of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee will be:

Thursday, July 6, 2006
8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Regional Administrative Headquarters
Council Chamber, 5th Floor
10 Peel Centre Dr.
Brampton, Ontario

8. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 11:31 a.m.