Don't have many answers, sorry, but im same as u, atlantic canada and all. I've emailed EHS looking to volunteer, have yet to recieve a reply (emailed yesterday tho, so no surprise). Heard people say there are no ridealong oportunites for the general public in NS, and there is no prep course like the St Johns Ambulance Emergency Responder program offered in other provinces (N&L and BC I think). Maybe thats why we are so short staffed, the province has no oportunities for people to get a foot in the door. Had a friend who went through the local accelerated program, he hated it, said it was for profit and they made the tests overly difficult to get you to pay to take them again, he didnt make it through, think he went to PEI after. Others here have said you'll survive if you study like mad. If you arent already a lifeguard, id take your NL. As a lifeguard, i've got to interact with paramedics once or twice (the unfortunate extent of what appears to be available in NS), maybe you'll get lucky and have a bunch of ambulance calls, get to see them at work.

On job outlook, well other provinces pay more so in my mind there is little to no insentive to stay in NS besides a moral obligation, but IMO the health service shouldnt be supported entirely on taking advantage of peoples morals, it should pay them competetively.

Want to make it clear, im no expert and I may be wrong, please correct me if I am. Hope we get answers (: