Mock disaster practice file photo.

Staffing emergency health services can be a challenge, especially in rural Saskatchewan. Ensuring there are EMT and Paramedic services can be especially challenging because of the on-call nature of their jobs.

Carmen Sterling, Reeve of the RM of Weyburn and Director of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities District 1, was a part of the Regina-based group addressing the issue. They have created a resolution which is being presented at the 2015 SARM convention this week.

"They're being paid $5 an hour to be on stand-by and the coordinators are receiving $500 a month which is, in their opinion, severely underpaying for a service that is integral to their community and to their health," said Sterling. EMS workers are often hired from outside the community when needs can not be met locally and those staff must spend on-call days in the community, not at home, potentially earning stand-by pay for the whole shift.

"Our commitment was to hear those concerns today and then we're going to go back and have a discussion with Sun Country and the Ministry (of Health) to see what we can do on our end to ensure that there are those emergency services," said Minister of Health, Dustin Duncan, at the grand opening of the new Radville Marian Health Centre last week. Radville is one community which has recently faced problems staffing their EMS department.

"That's the rate that had been negotiated with the unions that represent EMS, so a part of it is a conversation around collective bargaining," said Duncan in response to questions about the $5 per hour stand-by rate of a pay.