Streamlining Fire and EMS

A long awaited service efficiency review of Toronto Fire Services and Emergency Medical Services  (EMS) came to City Council in July for review and discussion. The review evaluated how the two divisions deliver services and focused on recommendations for improvements.

Our aging population is putting significant pressure on EMS – demand has increased by almost 30 percent over the last 10 years and is expected to keep on rising – while the number of fires is down despite population growth. The service efficiency review came at just the right time.

The review found opportunities for collaboration and resource sharing between Fire and EMS, and I moved a successful motion asking for a report on streamlining the administrative structure of the two services by integrating them under a single city manager’s portfolio.