After 25 years helping young adults fight cancer, YACC and its founder are still going strong
A group that's helped more than 6,000 young Canadians fight cancer is celebrating a victory of its own. Young Adult Cancer Canada is turning 25, an anniversary that coincides with founder Geoff Eaton's own cancer recovery. Today, Eaton is grateful that he and the organization are both still here.
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CTV News
30 minutes ago
- CTV News
Ottawa paramedics spending less time waiting to offload patients in ERs, report shows
Ottawa paramedics are spending less time waiting to offload patients in hospital emergency rooms and the service is at 'level zero' less often since the introduction of a new dispatch system a year ago, according to a new report. The Ottawa Paramedic Service introduced a new 'medical priority dispatch system' in April 2024, which allows dispatchers to identify urgent patients who require an immediate paramedic response and non-life-threatening calls that may be deferred, delaying a paramedic response. The 2024 Ottawa Paramedic Service Report says the introduction of the new dispatch system and the implementation of new mitigation measures in hospitals has resulted in a 'significant decrease to hospital offload delays and 'level zero' events.' The paramedic service spent 11,373 minutes at 'level zero' in 2024, when there were no ambulances available to respond to a call. That's down from 52,995 minutes at 'level zero' in 2023 and 73,060 minutes in 2022. Staff say offload delays at local hospital emergency rooms continue to be a 'significant contributor' to 'level zero' events for the paramedic service. 'The performance target for level zero is that there should never be a time when a paramedic crew is not available,' the report says. According to the Ottawa Paramedic Service, offload delays improved at all five Ottawa hospital emergency rooms last year, but the paramedic service and hospitals are not meeting performance targets. The industry accepted performance target to transfer patients to the care of a hospital is 30 minutes at the 90th percentile. Here is a look at the Ottawa hospital offload times in 2024: Ottawa Hospital General Campus: 112.73 minutes (158.08 minutes in 2023) Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus: 112.78 minutes (142.20 minutes in 2023) Montfort Hospital: 159.01 minutes (234.40 minutes in 2023) Queensway-Carleton Hospital: 144.18 minutes (171.81 minutes in 2023) CHEO: 38.45 minutes (39.46 minutes in 2023) The paramedic report says hospitals implemented several mitigations strategies last September aimed at reducing offload delays and improving service for the patient. Mitigation measures include: Paramedic Response Unit : An emergency response vehicle staffed with a single paramedic can assess patients, initiate care and determine whether an ambulance is required. : An emergency response vehicle staffed with a single paramedic can assess patients, initiate care and determine whether an ambulance is required. Dedicated Offload Nurse Program: Paramedics transfer care to a dedicated health professional within the hospital ER. Paramedics transfer care to a dedicated health professional within the hospital ER. Vertical Patient 'Fit 2 Sit' Program: The program has seen almost 4,500 patients redirected to the emergency department waiting room, allowing paramedic crews back into the community. The program has seen almost 4,500 patients redirected to the emergency department waiting room, allowing paramedic crews back into the community. Targeted Engagement Diversion: Paramedics may transport an individual experiencing homelessness to a specialized medical clinic operated by Ottawa Inner City Health. In 2024, almost 900 people were diverted away from the ER. Paramedics may transport an individual experiencing homelessness to a specialized medical clinic operated by Ottawa Inner City Health. In 2024, almost 900 people were diverted away from the ER. Mobile Logistics Support Unit Patient Flow Paramedic : The Ottawa Paramedic Service deploys a single flow paramedic to an ER to receive up to four patients, allowing four crews to return to service. : The Ottawa Paramedic Service deploys a single flow paramedic to an ER to receive up to four patients, allowing four crews to return to service. Paramedic treatment on offload delay: Paramedics administer clinical treatment while in a hospital during an offload delay. A paramedic can consult with a physician on patient care and provide ongoing treatment. Paramedics administer clinical treatment while in a hospital during an offload delay. A paramedic can consult with a physician on patient care and provide ongoing treatment. Physician assessment on stretchers: A physician will assess or treat a patient while in the care of a paramedic crew during an offload delay. A physician will assess or treat a patient while in the care of a paramedic crew during an offload delay. Breakaway paramedic crew: Breakaway paramedic crews are identified at the start of the shift and deployed when there are high acuity calls waiting in the queue. Ottawa paramedics Ottawa Paramedic Service vehicles parked at a hospital in Ottawa. (Natalie van Rooy/CTV News Ottawa) Response times Ottawa paramedics received 121,461 calls for service in 2024, down from 127,107 calls for service in 2023. There were 173,053 responses by paramedics last year, down from 193,127 responses in 2023 and 184,113 responses in 2022. The response volume is measured on how many paramedic resources are assigned to calls. According to the report, paramedics met the Council-approved response time performance targets in 2024. The Ottawa Paramedic Service responded to life-threatening calls within eight minutes 75 per cent of the time last year, up from 68 per cent of the time in 2023 and 61.8 per cent in 2022. For urgent calls, paramedics responded to calls within 10 minutes 76 per cent of the time, up from 68.8 per cent in 2023. Paramedics also met the response time target for sudden cardiac arrest, responding to calls within six minutes 70.2 per cent of the time. The target for sudden cardiac arrest is a response time within six minutes, 65 per cent of the time. The City of Ottawa hired 14 new full-time paramedics in 2023 and 28 new full-time paramedics in 2024 to help improve response times. The 2025 budget included funding for 27 new full-time paramedic stations.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Fentanyl czar says government's border bill will help in fight against lethal drug
Canada's fentanyl czar Kevin Brosseau looks on during a press conference following a tour of the Canada Border Services Agency Lansdowne port of entry in Lansdowne, Ont., on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby OTTAWA — Canada's fentanyl czar says the fight against the deadly opioid would get a boost from proposed new tools for law enforcement in the Liberal government's recently tabled border bill. Kevin Brosseau, the federal point person on fentanyl, welcomes provisions in the Strong Borders Act to increase inspection powers, give police easier access to information, crack down on money laundering and improve control of chemicals used to make the drug. Brosseau was appointed fentanyl commissioner in February in response to the White House's vocal concerns about the southbound flow of the synthetic opioid into the United States — criticism it used to justify tariffs against Canada. In an interview, Brosseau said Canada is 'not the significant source' of fentanyl entering the United States, but reiterated his stance that being the source of any of the drug is a concern because small amounts can have devastating effects. Brosseau, a former senior Mountie, said his American counterparts have expressed 'deep appreciation' for Canada's efforts to address fentanyl, given the U.S. focus on hardening the border and protecting the homeland. He said they want to take additional steps in 'a collaborative approach' with Canada to address any gaps in areas such as information sharing. As a result, Brosseau said, his message of integrating and amplifying the work on fentanyl north of the border 'has been well received' by the Americans. 'We know domestically, in communities across this country, there is a problem with fentanyl production, supply, trafficking and use,' he said. An average of about 21 people a day are dying in Canada from using the drug, 'and that's what incentivizes me to act and do something.' The Liberal government's wide-ranging border bill has drawn pointed criticism from civil libertarians and refugee protection advocates. The legislation contains several elements Brosseau sees as helpful in tackling fentanyl, including a requirement that owners and operators at certain ports provide facilities for the Canada Border Services Agency to examine and detain goods bound for export. The bill would also remove barriers that prevent police from searching mail to advance a criminal investigation, where authorized to do so under the law, and expand Canada Post's inspection authority to open mail. The legislation would also make it easier for authorities to access information about internet subscribers, enable the health minister to more rapidly control precursor chemicals that can be used to produce illicit drugs and introduce new restrictions on large cash transactions. Brosseau suggested a comprehensive approach is key because, otherwise, fighting fentanyl producers and traffickers becomes a game of whack-a-mole, with a new vulnerability popping up as soon as one is eliminated. 'Criminal organizations are incredibly adept at figuring out what the weak points are, and when the weak points are found, they will be exploited until you close it off,' he said. The proposed legislation builds on earlier Canadian border security measures, including the introduction of round-the-clock border surveillance using helicopters, drones and towers. Ottawa is also working with Washington on a North American 'joint strike force' to target organized crime groups that work across borders. Overall, Brosseau is taking a broad view of the fentanyl problem, stressing the need to hold those who profit from the drug accountable and make sure authorities have the needed tools, while also putting programs in place to help addicted people find a path to recovery. 'I call it an all-of-society approach,' he said. 'And the conversations I have with everybody (are) that there are no free rides in this.' Brosseau said the scourge of fentanyl and other opioids has become a concern on his street among 'parents like me' — part of a larger national conversation. He said he's in a position to provide some comfort and security to fellow parents worried about their children who might be exposed to drugs, and solace to those who are going through heartache by showing 'that we're going to do something about it.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
‘It's scary': Residents say their groundwater is contaminated by firefighting foam from St. John's Airport
A group near St. John's Airport is worried about the quality of their drinking water. CTV's Garrett Barry reports. Torbay, N.L. -- A group of homeowners near the St. John's International Airport say runoff from foam used in decades of firefighting training has contaminated their drinking water and left them fearful of long-term health effects. Residents in Torbay, N.L., are attempting to bring a class-action lawsuit against Transport Canada, claiming the federal department didn't do enough to remediate and contain PFAS chemicals from contaminating their drinking wells. PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are often called 'forever chemicals' in reference to their resistance to breakdown and extremely long life. They've been linked to cancers and other serious health risks. A statement of claim, filed last month at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, alleges the department knew the PFAS were present in the environment surrounding the airport, but didn't notify nearby residents until Health Canada began to lower exposure guidelines in 2023. Torbay resident Dean Pike would be included in the class-action lawsuit should it be certified at Newfoundland and Labrador's Supreme Court. He and his family, including all pets, are not drinking the well water, relying instead on 5-gallon bottles. He says a Transport Canada representative tested his well water in December and found that the PFAS concentration was below Health Canada's 30 nanogram per litre guidelines. But Pike says he and his family are refusing to drink the water at any PFAS concentration. 'In my opinion, my water is contaminated regardless if it's 0.1 or five hundred [nanograms per litre],' Pike said. 'We should not be consuming PFAS in our system.' Pike says he's been left to wonder whether his diagnosis of prostate cancer was influenced by potentially drinking contaminated water through his well. 'We do not have a family history of it,' he said. 'So, it makes you wonder, was it because I was drinking water here for the last 20 years that was contaminated by what happened at the airport?' Pike said. Forever chemicals news FILE - A water researcher pours a water sample into a smaller glass container for experimentation as part of drinking water and PFAS research at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Center For Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File) (Joshua A. Bickel/AP) In a statement to CTV News, Transport Canada said it would respond to the claims included in the class-action lawsuit in a courtroom. The department hasn't yet had to file a statement of defence in the lawsuit. 'Transport Canada takes its responsibilities seriously,' a spokesperson wrote. 'The department will continue to work with local health authorities and support potentially impacted residents and communities.' A statement of claim filed in May alleges that Transport Canada received test results indicating an elevated level of PFAS in the groundwater at the firefighter training site and in nearby surface water in 2011. Those results came in higher than the previous Health Canada objective of 700 nanograms per litre, and significantly higher than the current objective of 30 nanograms per litre. The statement of claim further alleges that Transport Canada 'knew that PFAS is characteristically capable of travelling long distances in groundwater.' Lawyer Alex Templeton said Transport Canada didn't inform homeowners they knew PFAS was in the area when they began a testing project in the nearby subdivisions in 2024. 'They didn't say that 'we've been sitting on monitoring data that shows for the past decade, annually, PFAS has been in the deep water aquifer, supplying this groundwater system,' he said. 'They didn't disclose that to any of these residents.' According to health surveys, nearly every Canadian has some PFAS concentration in their bloodstream. Health Canada wrote in its document laying out it's 30 nanogram per litre objective that exposure to PFAS does not 'necessarily mean that health problems will occur,' and exposure length, intensity and frequency are important considerations. Forever chemicals concerns in Newfoundland Eddie Sheerr has been drinking bottled water at home. Eddie Sheerr, the lead plaintiff for the proposed class-action, has also been living off bottled water. But his bottles are being delivered by Transport Canada, after tests in their water well in 2024 showed PFAS concentrations at about 100 nanograms per litre, well higher than Health Canada objectives. 'It's definitely scary because we've lived in the house since 2017,' he said. 'My kids are in the house. We've been bathing in the water, we drink the water, we cook with the water and so it gets you questioning a whole bunch of things.'
