The paramedic community says blending fire with EMS won't offer any cost savings to council in the long-term.
Upwards of 200 people, from Toronto to Windsor, joined local EMS workers in protesting a proposal to amalgamate the two services, at an information picket Monday afternoon.
Union official Chris Stolte estimates the proposal - if adopted - could cost taxpayers as much as three times what they already pay for fire and EMS.
He says there will be added costs to pay firefighters for having a paramedic skill set, noting they're already the highest paid in the emergency services.
"And that's just going to expand."
Jeff Van Pelt, from the Ontario Paramedics Working Group, adds EMS offer more bang for your buck.
"It costs $900,000 for a fire truck to show up on a medical call. It costs $100,000 for [paramedics] to show up, so which is better?"
Van Pelt says he's in a favour of a model where EMS would be brought under the municipal umbrella, but remains independent.
Stolte says the Service Employees International Union is planning on making a deputation to Chatham-Kent council on June 27.
