Firefighters accused of racism and implicit bias going back to work

Four members of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service will soon return to work, according to a memo sent out to members of the union representing firefighters.

The four were placed on administrative leave earlier this year after an investigation found they showed implicit bias and lack of concern for a seriously injured Indigenous patient during a call last October. 

The memo, sent out by Alex Forrest, the president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, says "we are pleased to update the membership that an internal disciplinary process has now concluded and we are pleased to announce to all members of the UFFW that all four of our brothers will be back at work shortly."

Forrest told CBC News he could not go into any details about the disciplinary process or its conclusions, other than to say he'd given notice to his members the four firefighters would be back to work for their next shift.

A WFPS spokesperson says "appropriate actions" were taken and there is no risk to the public or patients.

The spokesperson would not comment further on any specific disciplinary action taken against any of the four firefighters involved.

In the report into the October incident, investigator Laurelle Harris concluded racism played a role in how the Indigenous patient was treated at the scene.

The complaint came from a paramedic who alleged he was delayed in transporting the patient to hospital because a firefighter "blatantly refused" to help.

Harris did not recommend disciplinary action, but instead Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service members receive education on implicit bias.

The investigation and subsequent decision to place the firefighters on leave triggered a challenge from Mayor Brian Bowman to the leadership of the UFFW to recognize the existence of systemic racism.

Forrest responded at the time that his union worked at combating racism "years before the City of Winnipeg put forth any policies preventing systemic racism."

Paramedics have voiced concerns about discriminatory and disrespectful behaviour within the WFPS for years, but there has been little action from the city, Michelle Gawronksy said in a statement Wednesday. Gawronsky is president of MGEU, the union representing ambulance paramedics.

"When Winnipeggers call 911 in an emergency they want to know those who arrive will provide the best care possible. So when an independent investigator found troubling evidence that racial animus resulted in delayed medical care to a critically injured Indigenous woman late last year, it once again called into question the culture within WFPS and the need for real change," Gawronsky said.

"Unfortunately, we have seen very little evidence of meaningful change so far, despite the troubling findings in the independent investigator's report. The mayor and the city's senior management need to take this report seriously." 

Following the release of the report last month, WFPS Chief John Lane told reporters 200 WFPS front-line leaders will be required to go through anti-racism training. He said additional anti-oppression training will also be mandatory for all other employees.

WFPS has also hired two consulting firms to do a workplace cultural assessment and outline steps for improvement.

Training underway: WFPS

The workplace assessment is underway, and front-line WFPS leaders are taking mandatory diversity and inclusion training, a spokesperson said. The rest of the WFPS staff will get the same education "in the near future."

Coun. Sherri Rollins, the chair of the city's protection and community services committee, declined to comment directly about the decision allowing the four firefighters back to duty, but did say the need for training is critical.

"Anti-racism, anti-bias training is a huge priority for me, including anti-oppression [training] and I think I've been clear we need a safer city and that is the route to getting there for everyone," Rollins said Wednesday.

All WFPS members must take one of two Indigenous Awareness courses — offered by the city to address one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls to action — and new employees need to take the training as part of their onboarding, a spokesperson said.

WFPS employees without direct reports must also take a half-day course that teaches an introduction into an Indigenous world view, and insight into residential schools with a Winnipeg focus, a spokesperson said.

WFPS leaders with direct reports need to take a two-day course that, among other things, teaches Indigenous history, the impacts and legacy of residential schools, and the tradition and contemporary role of Indigenous women, a spokesperson said.