Photo via BCEHS

The Mayor of Clearwater says the new temporary funding model agreement between the province and BC Paramedics is a step in the right direction.

However, Merlin Blackwell still has concerns that it won’t be of much help to his community.

“I don’t think you are going to see it in communities like Clearwater as much as you will in Barriere and Blue River and places like that that have the scheduled on-call or the second car that is not being staffed as much,” he said.

The new agreement boosts the on-call standby rate pay from $2 an hour to $12 an hour with paramedics also paid at a double overtime rate for overtime or recall shifts on evenings and weekends.

“I think it recognizes that those willing to spend the time out there on call on that page are giving up their lives and deserve to be treated with the respect that this is not a community volunteer position that you have to get paid for,” he added.

Speaking on the NL Morning News, Blackwell also said that the rate at which the government is starting to make changes is “exceptional.”

“I think we got to take this as a good sign and work with it. For communities like mine, we can do things like fill-in opportunities for housing as these people come into our communities,” he said.

While Blackwell suggests that the new deal, which will be in place until Dec. 31 or until the province and union reach a new permanent deal, will encourage more people to work as paramedics, he thinks there should be something to help pay for their education.

“The process of getting onboarded as a future ambulance attendant slash paramedic is still slow, and we do need to kick out the jams and get them moving forward,” he said.

“And I completely agree with [Barriere Mayor] Ward Stamer on paying for training.”