OPSEU L679 Manitoulin-Sudbury Paramedics/PTS

08/05/2026

OPSEU Local 679 is proud to represent and support our PTS members. Otherwise known as Non Urgent Patient Transportation (NUPT).

These hard working, dedicated professions provide safe transportation between medical facilities in the Manitoulin-Sudbury area.
Frequently making multiple trips per day with multiple patients between Manitoulin and Health Sciences North in Sudbury.
These workers are making a difference everyday. Assisting those in need, connecting patients to services that are a long distance away and helping the health care system in Northern Ontario.

They are 100% vital for the operation of our Paramedic Servives, to the hospitals in the area and to the residences/visitors/patients within the Manitoulin-Sudbury catchment.

If you see a vehicle that looks like an Ambulance driving the highways, it is likely NUPT.

Thank you for doing great work and serving your communities.

07/26/2026

July 26,3026
Another day with less than the minimum level of frontline service. Fingers crossed we all make it through another downstaffing event.

March 2026-service enhancement announcement for a second night shift Ambulance in Wikwemikong FN. Actually started and staffed July 5th, 2026.

We are in the middle of the worst frontline Paramedic staffing crisis of this generation. Everyday we are getting by on a hope and a prayer.

Currently there are 7 full time vacant positions. Some of them have been empty for more than a year.

We have 15 less part time Paramedics than we had 7 years ago.

We are moving backwards.
Action needed.
What needs to happen for things to change?

07/22/2026

OPSEU Local 679 Paramedics hear and understand the concerns of our southern counterparts. We understand the difficult position you are in. We support your drive to improve the system and take care of the frontline professionals. Stay the course and stick together.
Solidarity.

Essex-Windsor paramedics move closer to a strike as CUPE 2974 calls for a No Board report WINDSOR, ON — (COMMUNITYWIRE) — After 6 months of negotiations failed to resolve chronic staffing challenges at Essex-Windsor EMS, last week CUPE 2974 requested a No Board report from the Ontario Ministry o...

07/20/2026

Why is recruitment and rentention so bad for Manitoulin-Sudbury Paramedics?

Not a simple answer to this question. Many factors come into play.

1. Manitoulin-Sudbury area Paramedic wages are a minimum of 20% less then Full Time fire or Police wages in the area. That number doesn't explain the full scale of things because their benefits and pension are extremely far superior to those of Paramedics. We are losing qualified staff there.

2. Manitoulin-Sudbury area Paramedic wages are up to 35% less than some Southern Ontario Paramedic services. We are losing lots of qualified Paramedics there.

3. Work conditions of a Paramedic are very physically and mentally demanding. Frequently in remote areas with no backup, visiting people on the worst days of their lives. We have lost many qualified Paramedics there.

4. Work geography-our Paramedics work in stations across the 45,000 sq km coverage area. This requires many hours of driving before and after a 12 hour shift. This has taking a toll on many Paramedics; physically, mentally and financially.

5. Affordable housing- due to the large coverage area, the cost and availability of housing has been difficult for Paramedics (as it is with almost everyone).

In the last 6 years OPSEU Local 679 has lost,
- 9 Paramedics to career ending injury or illness,
-17 Full Time Paramedics to resignations,
-43 Part time Paramedics to resignations,
-only 7 Paramedics to retirement.

Frontline Paramedics are working hundreds of hours of overtime to staff Ambulances. Without frontline Paramedics putting life, family and other commitments on pause, the downstaffing issue would be 10 times worse.

We are not short Paramedics because they are on vacation at the beach.

We are short Paramedics because they are not being treated as valued Emergency service personnel. They are not given the support, benefits, pay, pensions and respect they deserve.

07/18/2026

July 18, 2026. 4 out of the last 5 days.

Hopefully today isn't the day where someone's life is negatively impacted due to the downstaffed Paramedic on Manitoulin.

Every day of short staffed Paramedic services is like rolling the dice on the safety of our community members.

It continues to get harder and harder to watch. Real solutions are needed, ASAP.

07/17/2026

Reminder-downstaffing is when the standard or minimum amount of Paramedics can NOT be obtained.
Downstaffing results in unbalanced emergency coverage, possible delayed response times and overall additional stress to the system.

Full time Parameidcs work a minimum 42 hours every week. Many have been working 48-60 hours every week just to try and staff Ambulances to avoid downstaffing.

The Manitoulin-Sudbury area Paramedics have been running on empty for far too long.

Any downstaffing should be unacceptable to the residence and visitors to this area.

3 out of the last 4 days downstaffing has occurred. This is an ongoing serious problem that requires real solutions.

07/15/2026

Just like yesterday, short again.
2 days in a row with the addition of being short an essential Community Paramedic(CP).

Front line Paramedics put in hundreds of hours of overtime trying to filled the need.
They are giving everything they can to serve the communities.

Bottom line-they can't be in 2 places at once and there are just not enough Paramedics.

Fix recruitment and rentention. Recognize and respect the work they do everyday.

07/15/2026

Wednesday July 15, 2026
Another day where there is not enough Paramedics to staff emergency vehicles.

Community Paramedics are pull from their assignment, appointments canceled, to cover the vacancies.
This leaves vulnerable clients in need waiting for essential assistance. This builds hesitation, frustration and distrust in the system.

"Robbing from Peter to pay Paul"
These patchwork/bandaid solutions only create more problems.

Permanent, real and rapid solutions are long overdue to help the Paramedic staffing crisis.

07/14/2026

Any shortage is unacceptable. The public must know that our Paramedics need help. The staffing crisis is real.
Solutions must be an everyday conversation. Plans for recruitment, rentention, recognition and respect should be a priority.
The public deserves to have access to a fully staffed Paramedic Service.