Driedger Receives Provincial Appointment

A man from Steinbach is one of fifteen Manitobans appointed to serve on a transitional council that will guide implementation of a college of paramedics.

Manitoba Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen calls this an important day for the profession of paramedics in this province. He says paramedics are a critical part of our health-care system and the move towards self-regulation recognizes the fact they are professionals who are continuing to improve their skills and service to Manitobans.

David Driedger of Steinbach has been appointed to the council. Driedger is Chief Executive Officer of HavenGroup, the HavenGroup Foundation and Steinbach Housing Inc.

Membership on the council will include emergency medical responders, primary care paramedics, advanced care paramedics and firefighter/paramedics, as well as public representatives. Members were selected to represent the northern and rural parts of the province, as well as Winnipeg.

"It's a privilege to be appointed by the minister to serve in this capacity," says Driedger. "As a public representative to the professional college, I look forward to serving."

Driedger says the council will be responsible for recruiting the first registrar/executive director.

"The full responsibility is really just to organize the college," he adds.

The Regulated Health Professions Act will bring all regulated health professions under one umbrella piece of legislation. The act sets out a new way of regulating who does what in the provision of health services, based on the concept of regulating specific health procedures.

"Having a college of paramedics will ensure that every paramedic that is licensed in the province will meet minimum standards and that the public can then be assured that the service they are receiving will be sound," says Driedger.