BILL 44

An Act to Amend the Ambulance Services Act

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, enacts as follows:

1                   Subsection 4(1) of the Ambulance Services Act, chapter A-7.3 of the Acts of New Brunswick, 1990, is repealed and the following is substituted:

4(1)              The Minister may appoint an Ambulance Services Advisory Committee to conduct the following:

(a)           advise the Minister on matters relating to ambulance services that the Minister refers to the Committee for its consideration or that the Committee considers appropriate, and

(b)           bring before the government and the public, matters of interest and concern to the Committee.

2                   Subsection 4(2) of the Act is amended

(a)           in paragraph (b) by striking out “New Brunswick Ambulance Operators Association” and substituting “Paramedic Association of New Brunswick”;

(b)           in paragraph (d) by striking out “New Brunswick Hospital Association” and substituting “Paramedics Union CUPE 4848”;

(c)           in paragraph (h) by striking out “and” at the end of the paragraph;

(d)           in paragraph (i) by striking out the period at the end of the paragraph and substituting a comma followed by “and”;

(e)           by adding after paragraph (i) the following:

(j)            a person appointed at the discretion of the Minister.

3                   The Act is amended by adding after subsection 4(2) the following:

4(3)              The Ambulance Services Advisory Committee, in carrying out its duties, may

(a)           undertake research on matters relevant to ambulance services, certifications, regulations, complaints, billing, and the role of stakeholders in the ambulance services,

(b)           receive and hear petitions and suggestions from individuals and groups from both official language communities concerning matters relevant to ambulance services,

(c)           establish committees consisting of members of the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee and other persons who are not members to assist and advise the Committee,

(d)           make referrals and proposals to, and consult and collaborate with, government agencies, voluntary associations, private businesses, universities and individuals with respect to matters relevant to ambulance services, including without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

(i)       research areas that may be studied;

(ii)      programs that may be developed or modified; and

(iii)     legislation, policies and practices that may be adopted, and

(e)           prepare from time to time such reports, studies and recommendations as the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee considers necessary.

4(4)              Each year, on or before July 31, the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee shall submit to the Minister an estimate of the money required for the operation of the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee during the next fiscal year.

4(5)              The accounts of the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee shall be audited each year by the Auditor General and his or her report shall be included in the annual report of the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee.

4(6)              Before the commencement of each fiscal year, the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee shall submit to the Minister for approval a work plan setting out the manner in which the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee intends to carry out its duties during the fiscal year.

4(7)              The Ambulance Services Advisory Committee may amend a work plan at any time during the fiscal year and shall submit the amended work plan to the Minister for approval.

4(8)              The Ambulance Services Advisory Committee shall within 3 months after the end of each fiscal year submit to the Minister an annual report that shall contain

(a)           a report of all meetings conducted by the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee during the year,

(b)           a report of the findings, conclusions and recommendations referred or made by the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee to the Minister during the year,

(c)           a report of the progress of the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee in relation to the implementation of the work plan referred to in subsection (6) or, if an amended work plan has been approved by the Minister under subsection (7), in relation to the implementation of the most recent amended work plan approved by him or her, and

(d)           the report of the Auditor General referred to in subsection (5).

4(9)              The Minister shall lay the annual report before the Legislative Assembly if it is then sitting, or, if the Legislative Assembly is not then sitting, with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.

4(10)            The Ambulance Services Advisory Committee may, subject to budgetary constraints, employ or engage such persons as it considers necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

4(11)            The Ambulance Services Advisory Committee may hold its meetings at any place in the Province.

4(12)            The Ambulance Services Advisory Committee shall meet at least 4 times in each year at such times and places designated by the Chair or otherwise determined in accordance with the by-laws of the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee.

4(13)            Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, the Ambulance Services Advisory Committee may make by-laws for its internal management.

4                   This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by proclamation.