Burnaby’s first and favourite information source
Delivery 604-942-3081 • Saturday, May 8, 2010
Fitness freebies: City offers incentives on health day
South loses a heartbreaker
PAGE 13
PAGE 35
Your source for local sports, news, weather and entertainment! >> www.burnabynow.com
Paramedics call decision ‘devastating’ Janaya Fuller-Evans
staff reporter
The provincial government has announced plans to cut 14 ambulances and 45,000 hours – the equivalent of 36 full-time paramedic jobs – from the ambulance fleet in the Lower Mainland, according to the paramedics’ union.
But B.C. Ambulance Service says ambulances and jobs are not being cut. However, non-emergency transportation for patients is being transferred to private contractors. Non-emergency transportation usually involves transferring patients from hospitals to other medical facilities or appointments. The Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. – Local 873 of the Canadian Union of Public
Employees – argued this would have a domino effect on the health-care system. The main issue, however, is that this does not solve the problem of not having enough ambulances overall, according to the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. “It’s a devastating decision for residents of Burnaby,” said B.J. Chute, director of public education for the paramedics’ union.
He added there is a lack of resources in the Burnaby area as it is, and hospitals such as Royal Columbian in New Westminster are also affected. “Ambulances are tied up for excessive hours at Royal Columbian,” he said. He would like the province to reconsider the transfer of services, Chute added. Paramedics Page 10
Perfect time to walk, er, pedal on water
Larry Wright/burnaby now
On the water: Rob Whalen and Nicky Onile take a pedal boat out for a spin at Deer Lake. Boat rentals at the lake are now open again for the season.
Groups wait for the call to help at oil spill Jennifer Moreau staff reporter
Burnaby residents may be called on to help in the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. “Our team is on standby,”
said Coleen Doucette of the Oiled Wildlife Society of B.C. “I expect we’ll get called at some point.” The society is part of the Oiled Wildlife Trust, an umbrella organization that includes the Burnaby-based Wildlife Rescue
Association of B.C. and the B.C. SPCA. Doucette said U.S. crews are handling the response so far, but depending on what develops, B.C. residents may be called in as relief workers.
birds lose their ability to regulate body temperature and try to go ashore to keep warm. But because of winds blowing away from the shore, it’s been difficult
Doucette said the oil is hitting the birds out in the water. “A lot of them are probably drowning,” Doucette said. “They’re going to start seeing dead birds soon.” Doucette said oil-covered
Don’t Miss A Moment
Do you avoid social situations and activities because you cannot hear well? When was the last time you had your hearing tested? Call today to book a FREE Hearing Assessment
Spill Page 3
Voted Best Hearing Centre for 12 years in a row row!
Metrotown Centre 604-434-2070
Guildford Town Centre Coquitlam Centre 604-583-13416 604-464-8090