PCC Members,
Further to the bulletin issued on March 6, 2025 Member Messages regarding the impact of tariffs and counter-tariffs on equipment, supplies and services used to provide paramedic services across Canada, we want to provide an update on our advocacy activities and share resources to members as our messaging is expanding across government and the public.
The past two days the PCC Board of Directors met in Toronto with our industry partners with the topic of tariffs being a priority agenda issue. As described in the earlier bulletin, our strategy to highlight the concerns related to the international trade dispute includes:
Advocacy – engaging with the federal government for tariff exemption
Public Awareness – ensuring the public is aware of this risk to public safety
Partnership – consistent messaging with and across our corporate partners
Collaboration – connecting with our allies – Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, others for joint messaging
To achieve this, the following activities have been undertaken:
- March 3 – met with corporate partners to discuss impacts and joint messaging
- March 5 – connected with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs to share messaging
- March 10 – engaged Summa Strategies to assist with our advocacy plan
- March 19 – met with the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
- March 20 – scheduled meeting with the Minister of Finance
- March 20 – press release (see attached)
- Pending – meeting with Minister of Health
In addition, we have been advised by the Foreign Affairs office of the importance of members to:
- Bring this issue to the attention of municipal, regional, and provincial levels of government
- Engage with federal and provincial municipal associations for a unified Team Canada approach
- Complete the Consultations on Canada’s Response to United States Tariffs on Canadian Goods: Comment Submission Form https://forms-formulaires.alpha.canada.ca/en/id/cm7upmkx9008rx268zhy9l6pj
- Collect the “HS codes” from our suppliers of goods and services exposed to tariffs
To assist the membership in advocacy activities, we have attached a Key Messages Bank document for consistent messaging with elected officials. We may also be reaching out to your organizations to assist in the collection of HS codes from vendors not directly affiliated with the PCC.
As this issue continues to shift with uncertainties, it is imperative that we continue to prepare and protect paramedic services from the economic effects that tariffs will impose. Your active participation is extremely important, and if you require any additional information, please let us know. We will be sure to keep you updated.
Thank you,
Kevin
President
Paramedic Chiefs of Canada (PCC)
president@paramedicchiefs.com
PRESS RELEASE – Impacts to Paramedic Services Amid Tariff Disputes.pdf