Question 3
Automated links between Provincial Central Ambulance Communication Centres (CACC) and Municipal Fire Dispatch Centres allow for real-time bi-directional sharing of information, remove human delays, and automatically notify the second agency of life-threatening emergencies. This system of simultaneous notification is in place in several municipalities (Barrie, Guelph, Kitchener/Cambridge, Mississauga, and Brampton) and has been shown to improve response times. Automated links are not currently in place between the Ottawa CACC and OFS Dispatch. While these links would not alleviate the real issues facing our paramedic partners, they would benefit residents by ensuring they receive help as quickly as possible in their time of need. A simultaneous notification system uses the same dispatch criteria that is in place today, it simply improves the speed of the system.
Will you commit to supporting simultaneous notification in Council and to working with the Province to ensure it is implemented in Ottawa?
Brandon Bay, Candidate for Mayor
Yes
Nour Kadri, Candidate for Mayor
Yes.
Graham MacDonald, Candidate for Mayor
Yes, I am shocked and concerned that it hasn't previously been implicated with Ottawa's emergency services partners. I fully commit to supporting simultaneous notification in Council and to working with the Province to ensure it is implemented in Ottawa.
Mike Maguire, Candidate for Mayor
Yes, it's astonishing that this hasn't already been done. Integration of communications is a huge value add.
Ade Olumide, Candidate for Mayor
Yes, based the background you provided this seems reasonable.
Param Singh, Candidate for Mayor
I was very intrigued when I read this. I was surprised to see that this was not already being implemented in one way or another. Having been a police officer for the past 20 years, I assumed this was already automated, or at least a quick link via dispatcher. I will support and look into having a similar system implemented in Ottawa, as long as this saves time and lives.
Rosemee Cantave, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 1 Orléans East-Cumberland
Yes. I will commit to supporting simultaneous notification in Council and to working with the province to ensure it is implemented. Anything that can reduce the wait time and facilitate the response to help the population in case of emergency should be implemented. This could save more lives.
Tessa Franklin, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 1 (Orléans East-Cumberland)
Yes. This is a proven method that helps first responders and residents. We’ve seen how well it works in other areas and it’s time to implement this in Ottawa.
Taayo Simmonds, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 3 Barrhaven West
I support
Christine Moulaison, Candidate Councillor - Ward 4 Kanata North
Any system that ensures quicker response times for our residents seems to me like an obvious must. We can not continue to allow the OFS to fall behind in technology when they work so hard to protect us all.
Stephanie Maghnam, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 5 West Carleton-March
Yes
Greg Patacairk, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 5 West Carleton-March
Yes
Mathew Duchesne, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 6 Stittsville
I do, we need to embrace life saving technology, especially where time is critical, it is imperative that we ensure best response times and keep our personnel available for other calls. Since the studies show this technology to be effective, I believe the people of Stittsville would expect these types of systems to be in place and prioritized.
Tanya Hein, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 6 Stittsville
I would be willing to explore this option.
Kevin Hua, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 6 Stittsville
Yes, facilitating smooth, efficient, and seamless simultaneous notification and coordination between paramedics and ambulance services with firefighters and fire services is a good step to improve community safety by allowing them to be more quickly aware and alert of life-threatening emergencies, reducing crucial minutes in response times and speeding up assistance and emergency life-saving care.
Robert Hill, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 7 Bay
Whatever we can do to eliminate the possibility of human error while also streamlining our dispatch systems is something we absolutely need to commit to doing as soon as possible, The safety of our people is not something that should be taken for granted.
Theresa Kavanagh, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 7 Bay
I am interested in exploring any systemic adjustments that might improve communication and response times between our emergency services. I look forward to hearing more about these innovations.
Laine Johnson, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 8 College
I lost someone very close to me in Ontario because there was a series of dispatching errors in fielding her emergency call. I would be greatly supportive of any and all improvements to dispatch systems so that no one, ever again, will fall through the cracks. Some of this confusion is due to an overlap of duty and responsibility and not knowing who ultimately is responsible for ensuring the call is complete. I would welcome a coordinated, clear delegation of role and responsibility between all emergency services when multiple are dispatched so that nothing is left on the floor.
Sean Devine, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 9 Knoxdale-Merivale
Yes. Ottawa’s Emergency Management department has clearly asked for support on innovative solutions to address our critical need for improved ambulance service. What you are proposing here is a rational (and already proven) option to meeting this emergency need.
Myles Egli, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 9 Knoxdale-Merivale
Yes
Michael Wood, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 9 Knoxdale-Merivale
I will support whatever keeps our residents the safest and ensures appropriate response times to crises. Having said this, not being directly involved at the city level before this, I am sure there are many nuances to consider. Having said this, I am always open to determining the best and most efficient way to keep our residents safe.
Taylor Houstoun, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 10 Gloucester-Southgate
Yes. Much akin to my previous response: when it comes to safety, we must help where we can. Part of the reason for living in a society is that we can better take care of each other. Fire, paramedic, and police services are the fundamentals of this. Furthermore, I support almost anything to alleviate burdens on both health and other emergency services. This plan has my support.
Hicham Boutaleb, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 12 Rideau-Vanier
Yes, I will support it. I believe a key approach to improving conditions in Ottawa is — follow better examples from other places. If it’s already a success story in the Province, why not here.
Kim Leclerc, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 12 Rideau-Vanier
It is important to use the best possible dispatching systems, as long as the technology is proven for a municipality the size of Ottawa. If not, consider what other solutions should be used
Stéphanie Plante, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 12 Rideau-Vanier
YES - it sounds like its long overdue
Laura Shantz, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 12 Rideau-Vanier
Yes, I commit to supporting simultaneous notification to improve response times, and to work with city council and the province to see it implemented.
Peter Karwacki, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 13 Rideau-Rockliffe
I support this technology. The spending on this equipment will help ensure that the service has the tools it needs to respond optimally. You would not want to divert expenditures when the incremental advantange for one intervention did not merit other potentially greater gains in service provision. For this reason, the proposed communication system must be viewed in context of the strategic plan. You hope to move faster, what are your response times currently, what has been lost due to issues with your response times? You admit that the system "would not alleviate the real issues facing our paramedic partners"
Let's talk about priorities next.
Rawlson King, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 13 Rideau-Rockliffe
Yes
Stuart MacKay, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 14 Somerset
Yes, I would commit to supporting simultaneous notification in Council and to working with the Province to ensure it is implemented in Ottawa.
Brandon Russell, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 14 Somerset
Human error is as basic to our society as air and water. Many good things have come from human error - people dying in fires because we can't emerge into the 21st century is not an error that will have a positive stain in the eyes of the next generation. We need to take day 1 action, and emerge into 2022.
Ariel Troster, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 14 Somerset
Yes.
Riley Brockington, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 16 River
I will commit to learning more about this matter. I want to support communication systems and tools that will as efficient and effective as possible. If this will serve our residents and businesses better, improve safety and be cost effective, I will certainly want to learn more.
Alex Dugal, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 16 River
YES. We need to implement changes that affect overall response times. IF there is something working somewhere else, we need to quickly review, analyze & then work towards implementation. Technology changes offer opportunities for improvements and we shouldnt be late to the adoption of these systems.
Shawn Menard, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 17 Capital
Yes, but we also need to stop underfunding ambulatory services and end hallway medicine. This is part of a larger trend devaluing the core services that keep our residents safe.
Marty Carr, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 18 Alta-Vista
Yes
Yvette Ashiri, Candidate for Councillor - Ward 19 Orléans South-Navan
Yes- It’s important to look to other cities to see how we can improve our own. It is very scary to be in a situation when emergency services cannot reach you, so we need to ensure that our Dispatch and Communication Centres are as efficient and updated as possible. As the brave people on the frontlines doing the groundwork- firefighters know what is needed and how to best help our communities. That is why I am absolutely committed to listening and working closely with OPFFA to advocate for the implementation of their recommendations, including this one.
Bob Masaro, Candidate for Councillor Ward 20 Osgoode
YES
Patti Searl, Candidate for Councillor Ward 21 Rideau-Jock
Yes Indeed, I am a resident of 25 here in Ottawa but have worked at Halton Regional Police Department and from the Georgetown Guelph area there is proven success in those metropolitans and can indeed improve responses. I am supportive, yes. If we have other areas we can lean into - listen- observe, learn from and implement with proven results that are satisfactory yes I will support that. I appreciate the information sharing from other areas so that we are not starting a new system and having a learning curve that can restrict or limit us in any way.
Kevin Setia, Candidate for Councillor Ward 21 Rideau-Jock
Yes
Mike Dawson, Candidate for Councillor Ward 23 Kanata South
Yes
Rouba Fattal, Candidate for Councillor Ward 23 Kanata South
I will absolutely support this system. As you mentioned, our Paramedics are already facing tremendous strain, but this system can help provide some peace of mind to residents despite this. I want to work closely with the province to ensure we are working towards policies that can help reduce some of the pressure being put on our fire service members and ambulances.
Patrick Brennan, Candidate for Councillor Ward 24 Barrhaven East
It sounds reasonable. Why isn't it in Ottawa currently?
Richard Garrick, Candidate for Councillor Ward 24 Barrhaven East
I am very much in support of a system that makes communication more effective and would consult with experts, research and guidance in order to meet the needs of our emergency services.
Wilson Lo, Candidate for Councillor Ward 24 Barrhaven East
Although firefighters are not as qualified as paramedics in administering aid, improving the response time of an emergency service personnel with first aid training is critical in assessing the situation to ensure the patient is well and under control. Firefighters in Ottawa should be able to respond to medical emergencies to provide our overstretched paramedical system with a first line of help, plus supplementary help throughout the call. This can also help with the difficulties paramedics have had recently with ambulance availability and burnout. Often, just having somebody present calms the situation and allows the patient, who might otherwise be in distress, know somebody is caring for them.
