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Alberta boom hurts paramedic recruitingAlberta's boom is making it more difficult to recruit experienced paramedics in Edmonton, says the head of the paramedics' union. |
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 [ 2007-04-06 ] |
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Yesterday, Gerry Wiles said emergency medical services is losing qualified people to higher-paying jobs in the oilpatch.
"There's so much work and so much money in the oilpatch, that these young people, that's what they see first - money," Wiles said. "When they're going to the oilpatch, they're making $600 to $800 a day."
A senior paramedic makes about $300 a day, he said.
Wiles said efforts have been ramped up to recruit new grads from training schools like NAIT before they've even graduated, he said.
"That way when they're done their course, they're going to become paramedics and actually stay here," Wiles said.
Twenty-two new paramedics will be hitting the streets shortly, he said.
Coun. Kim Krushell said all sectors have trouble recruiting in Alberta's economy.
"I think that's the case for every industry. It's nothing unique," she said.
Krushell said the city is looking at new ways to recruit and retain workers.
Paramedics are currently negotiating a new contract.
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