Canada, eh?

Hockey

Hockey

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I know we have several of our northern friends on this board and I think I can finally ask my question that I've been wanting to ask.

I currently live in Michigan, and a recent trip to Canada, I talked with some medics and they all say the pay is GREAT over there compared to the states. Also from reading some of the posts.

Does Ontario have EMT-B's?

What would the requirements be if I (as an EMT-B) went over to Ontario to work? Would I have to have a whole other course?

I have friends that travel the border daily for their work (They also get paid some big $$$$). If I lived in Port Huron, or near Detroit and crossed the border, would I be allowed to work as an EMT in Canada being a U.S citizen

I've looked around and I can't find ANY EMS Agencies in Ontario. I found the Windsor-Essex one but I believe they are all medics? Are there any around the border?

Any and all help is greatly appreciated ;) Don't really want to move over there, but wouldn't mind working there...yea yea I know :P
 
And I found some posts and it looks like the best bet is to go over to Alberta or something

Oh well I tried... :P
 
Go to Alberta, thats what I am doing.. plus you make WICKED money.
 
There are no EMT-Bs in Ontario. Our lowest level on the ambulance is what we call a Primary Care Paramedic (somewhat similar to EMT-I). We do get paid very well, but you would need to go through a two year college program before having a chance at a job.

Hope this helps!
 
Hockey9019 said:
they all say the pay is GREAT over there compared to the states.
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Keep in mind, no matter how crappy Granholm is doing, and no matter how crappy the Michigan economy is, $1US > $1CA, so in reality, their "$20 an hour" is equivalent to our $16.

Which even though I don't know the current rate in Michigan, I'd rather make a couple bucks less and live in the US, then go through all the extra training and expenses to live in another country for a measily couple of dollars an hour, which will take time to recoup.
 
Linuss said:
Keep in mind, no matter how crappy Granholm is doing, and no matter how crappy the Michigan economy is, $1US > $1CA, so in reality, their "$20 an hour" is equivalent to our $16.

Which even though I don't know the current rate in Michigan, I'd rather make a couple bucks less and live in the US, then go through all the extra training and expenses to live in another country for a measily couple of dollars an hour, which will take time to recoup.
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Let me say this... starting at McDonalds in Fort Mac is $16.00/hr. Medics make good money here in Alberta.
 
Actually, the exchange rate fluctuates. During the summer, $1 CA was > $1 US. At the current exchange rate (which is the worst I've seen in a while) my $20.88/hr equals $17.34/hr. Also, if wages are equalized in April once ALL EMS services fall under Alberta Health Services, my $24/hr will equal $19.92/hr.

When I compare that to the $7.80 I made 9 years ago in CA with AMR, I think I'll stay in Canada. Of course, the exchange rate is subject to change so my pay will occasionally equal more than represented on this site.

My yearly pay for last year was $68,000 Canadian. At an exchange rate of average $.92 Canadian/ $1 US, I made $62,560 US last year. As an EMT-A (EMT-I equivelant in the US). I just have to wonder how my US comrades did that are at my training level?
 
An EMT-B from the US would be equivelant to the EMR level in Alberta. Not many positions available for that level, but you could always work Industrial. They make around $60,000/year Canadian.
 
RESQ_5_1 said:
Actually, the exchange rate fluctuates. During the summer, $1 CA was > $1 US. At the current exchange rate (which is the worst I've seen in a while) my $20.88/hr equals $17.34/hr. Also, if wages are equalized in April once ALL EMS services fall under Alberta Health Services, my $24/hr will equal $19.92/hr.
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Taking this a bit off topic, but do you know HOW they are equalizing them? I mean, I know our service's wages are bound to go up either way, considering they are like they lowest in the province (we don't do much, either, though), but I'm wondering if they will equalize them at the highest rate currently paid anywhere in the province, or somewhere in the midst of current wage rates. Am I looking at a raise from $16.50/hr to, say, $19 for EMT, or all the way to the $23-24 that the City of Calgary or Edmonton would pay?
 
The current exchange rate is only a part of the equation while figuring the cost vs. benefit. It's been mentioned a few times that many things you buy in Canada will cost more than they do in the U.S. because we ship a lot of it up there adding shipping/customs costs etc. When you take everything into account meaning cost of moving, cost of getting certified in Canada etc. then compare it to the amount you will be making, it will take a while to actually come out ahead.

It's much like moving across country here for a job that pays an extra $2/hr. You can probably make your money back eventually but higher pay should not be the motivating factor for the move. If you enjoy Canada and want to live there because you like it there better than you like it here then yes EMS is a worthy profession there but not enough to justify all of the costs if money is the only reason you want to move.
 
so off topic some but can US medics do some sort of reciprocity to become a Canada medic.. or is that completely unheard of? If it is what does it take do so such a thing like that? I do know that if I were to consider that with all the extra taxes and higher cost of living in BC anyways it would take more than a few thousand extra a year to get someone to do it.
 
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waemt09 said:
so off topic some but can US medics do some sort of reciprocity to become a Canada medic.. or is that completely unheard of? If it is what does it take do so such a thing like that? I do know that if I were to consider that with all the extra taxes and higher cost of living in BC anyways it would take more than a few thousand extra a year to get someone to do it.
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There IS a reciprocity process. Someone from one of our units comes all the way from Buffalo, NY. He told me of two people in his EMT-B classes who were from Canada and commuted every day over the border.
 Subby may want to check reciprocity for New York state in relationship to Canada.
 
SmokeyBear said:
There IS a reciprocity process. Someone from one of our units comes all the way from Buffalo, NY. He told me of two people in his EMT-B classes who were from Canada and commuted every day over the border.
 Subby may want to check reciprocity for New York state in relationship to Canada.
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I'm not sure if you're trying to say there is reciprocity for a US EMT-B or EMT-P in Ontario. I will say again though, there is no Ontario recognition for EMT-B.
 
BEorP said:
I'm not sure if you're trying to say there is reciprocity for a US EMT-B or EMT-P in Ontario. I will say again though, there is no Ontario recognition for EMT-B.
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What I mean is these people apparently got their cert in New York and lived in Canada to work. The guy told me that they did it because "it was cheaper" to go to school in NY than in Canada. The whole conversation started because we were all talking about BC. Anyhow, there must be SOME kind of reciprocity agreement between NYS and Canada or why do it at all? Perhaps this is something new? Buffalo is apparently pretty close to the border. I'm no expert but other than reciprocity I can't understand why there would be so many Canadian students taking EMT courses in NY and then working in Canada. I live no where near either area but, subby may want to check it out never the less.
 
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To Jochi: I haven't heard exactly how they are going to standardize it, but alot of us are union. So, I'm pretty surethe union is gonna do everything in their power to make sure noone's wages go down. Edmonton EMT's are making around $24/hr. And, I'm betting if their pay goes DOWN, they are gonna flip.

To Marineman: Although cost of living in some places is higher, the person that was mentioning working up here intended to stay in the US. If that's the case, then cost of living wouldn't affect him. And, I primarily moved up here cuz I had married a Canadian. But, at the time, I was making $22,500/yr in Los Angeles. How do you think the cost of living is there? Again, I would suggest to anyone to come up here and at least check it out.

When I worked industrial, we had a paramedic that would come up for two weeks from Washington. He got it included in his contract that he go his $500/day whether he worked or not. Even at a very low exchange rate, that's still aroun $460/day for 14 days.
 
RESQ_5_1 said:
When I worked industrial, we had a paramedic that would come up for two weeks from Washington. He got it included in his contract that he go his $500/day whether he worked or not. Even at a very low exchange rate, that's still aroun $460/day for 14 days.
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so correct me if I'm wrong he worked two weeks on, two weeks off and made 6000+ a month. That's very impressive in my opinion.
So have things changed in BC because my step-dad is a Canadian who is now an American Resident, but he always told me that it was so much more expensive to live up their, not just housing, but groceries, especially gas... Plus I live in Bellingham, WA and I see a ton of Canadians always visiting here.
 
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