THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PORT COQUITLAM

THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PORT COQUITLAM

MEMORANDUM ~2~<

TO: = Alderman E.W. Mabbett July 10th, 1974 My recommendation is that we request the government place a fully

manned ambulence in Port Coquitiam to he stationed at the Port Coquitlan
Fire Hell. This ambulance service would be backed up by the Fire Depart-
ment inhalator vehicle.

FROM: W.S. Wingrove ¢.c. Alderman P.F. Ranger

Re: Provincial Takeover of Ambulance Service

In regard to the four additional firemen to be hired this year I do
not think we should delay any longer. Regardless of what service we supply
these men are needed primarily for fire fighting. We have paid out a
number of overtime cheques lately because when a shift has one man on
holidays and one becones 111, a man must be brought in and paid overtime.
This would not be necessary with the addition of four firemen. Also these
men will be needed to partially man the North Side Fire Hall next year.

I concur with Mr. Pollock's memorandum of July 2nd, 1974 but I fecl
the City must decide to what extent they are going to participate. Before
the Port Coquitlam Fire Department went to partial paid, the number of
inhalator calls were approximately 25 with only a small percentage of
patients being transported. At that time the majority of patients trans-
ported were done by Metropolitan Ambulance at the same rate as New West-
minster, Burnaby and Vancouver pays. New Westminster complained to
Metropolitan because they were being subsidized by New Westminster,
Burnaby and Vancouver and it was the New Westminster ambulances which
answered the calls to Port Coquitlam. This meant New Westminster was
actually paying the $20.00 difference as a subsidy for Port Coquit?am

calls, W.8. Wingrove,

Fira Chief.
Metropolitan approached the City some years ago end Proposed to

station in the Coquitlam area, not Port Coquitlam, an ambulance that
would look after the whole area (District £3). At that time the cost

to the City was $98,000.00 per year. This the City turned dowa and
Metropolitan continued to come out to Port Coquitlam when they had a
vehicle available, Approximately one year ago Metropolitan notified

the City that all calls attended by them to Port Coquitlam would be
charged $53.00 because New Westninster felt Port Coquitlam should share
any subsidy of the ambulance operation. Since that time and up until
July lst, 1974 any Port Coquitlam resident using Metropolitan was cherged
$53.00.

The point I think at this time is New Westninster, Vancouver and
Burnaby since July Ist, 1974 are getting this service free where as
Port Coquitlam is actually getting nothing in comparison. The three
Cities’ Fire Departments attend emergencies but do not transport so
actually they cannot be classified as an ambulance, whereas Port Coquitlam's
operation must be classified es an ambulence and I feel the government .
should finance the whole operation,

There is also another aspect that must be considered. Up until July
Ist, 1974 Port Coquitlam operated an inhalator rescue service ag part of
a Yireman's duty but I wonder, since the government has taken over and
classified our vehicles ag ambulances, are the Firemen entitled to an
adjustment in wages and/or working conditions. £ think if the Fire
Department was to operate strictly an emergency vehicle as New Westminster,
Burnaby and Vancouver do but do not transport: patients, it vould force the
government to put an ambulance at our disposal. Any information thet I can
obtain on the placement of ambulances is that one ambulance will be stationed
in the Coquitlam, Port Moody, and Port Coquitlem area and this to me will not
begin to service this large area,