Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC) Information
Dear Members;
Recently, there have been some questions and some misunderstanding of how the Ambulance Paramedics of BC (APBC) and the Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC) currently operate together. The following is intended to give you a brief history and structure of the BC Chapter and benefits associated with membership.
Formed in 1984 as the Canadian Society of Ambulance Personnel (CSAP), the Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC) is the National Association for paramedic advocacy. Representing over 20,000 practitioners in the following divisional chapters: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador, the Royal Canadian Medical Service (CAF) and a National Educators chapter. As per the National Bylaws, each Province may have one chapter. In British Columbia, the APBC is the Provincial chapter and has been since the foundation of CSAP in 1984. The type of representation for each divisional chapter in Canada varies from associations, to regulators to employers to educators to unions, each doing an excellent job of representing the profession. Each chapter has a seat and equal vote on the national board of directors, with BC also enjoying an additional position on the National executive as the 1st PVP is currently the Chair of the Board.
Through regular union dues, every member of the APBC is a paid member of the PAC – BC chapter. The BC Chapter also welcomes any licensed EMR’s or above who are not members of the APBC such as Ski Patrol, SAR members, industrial paramedics, St. John Ambulance volunteers and licensed BCAS excluded managers. They are provided “non-APBC, BC Chapter member status” through an annual fee structure. Benefits of membership include:
- Access to a significantly reduced national liability insurance program for practioners and an E&O type insurance coverage for EMD & EMCT’s (currently only in BC and Sask.)
- A discounted term life, critical illness and AD&D insurance coverage
- A discounted home, auto, travel and pet insurance coverages
- Special discounts and rebates at Hakim Optical
- Access to multiple continuing medical education courses.
The BC Chapter has been directly involved in many key professional initiatives with PAC including such things as:
- The development of the national entry to practice standard (Canadian Paramedic Profile which was formally the NOCP’s)
- The introduction and development of a Community Paramedic program in BC
- The inclusion of paramedics in the “public safety officer” designation for early retirement
- The inclusion of paramedics in the national memorial grant for fallen paramedics
- Multiple CSA standard development (including Community Paramedic and Psych health & safety)
- The development of a national benevolent committee (chaired by a retired 873 member)
- A national awards program (created and chaired by a current 873 CCP)
- Establishment and participation in national and provincial paramedic / dispatcher advocacy days
- Biannual national educational conference (PACE)
- A national vison of baccalaureate entry to practice for paramedicine starting in 2025.
As you can see by the brief overview above, the APBC has enjoyed an integrated and productive partnership with PAC, since their inception in 1984. Together, we’ve been working to advance our profession, in alignment with jurisdictions from across Canada.
Further information can be found both on the APBC website, convention reports and the PAC website found here: http://www.paramedic.ca
I hope that this has provided some insight, answered questions and dispelled some myths. Please feel free to contact any of the executive if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Please click HERE to view a PDF version of this message.
DD/sd/MoveUp