'Code Red': Paramedic union says lack of ambulances a near-daily reality in Toronto

Ambulance shortages in Toronto have become a near-daily reality, the city's paramedic union said after issuing a 'Code Red' on Monday. “It's only a matter of time before somebody is going to, unfortunately, die waiting on an ambulance,” Mike Merrimen, Chair at Toronto Civic Employees’ Union Local 416 paramedics’ unit, told CP24 on Tuesday afternoon. A day earlier, the union had shared a post to social media, alerting the public to a lack of transport ambulances available in the city – a situation dubbed ‘Code Red.’ “[An] ambulance for an unconscious elderly person was over 28 minutes away and Peel Paramedic Services had to be called in to help,” the union wrote in the post, shared to X.' CODE RED ALERT! ��NO TRANSPORT AMBULANCES AVAILABLE IN TORONTO! Ambulance for an unconscious elderly person was over 28 minutes away and Peel Paramedic Services had to be called in to help. Stay safe #Toronto#statuscodered #paramedics #onpoli @CP24 @CTVToronto @CityNewsTO pic.twit