City does not accept provincial EMS contract conditions

The City of Lethbridge will not accept Emergency Health Services (EHS) – Alberta’s new contract conditions due to the significant financial impact it would have on Lethbridge taxpayers. However, the City is keeping the door open for further discussions or a future procurement process that could allow Lethbridge to continue its integrated Fire and EMS model.

“I want the community and our staff to understand that this is not a decision to walk away from integrated Fire and EMS,” says Mayor Blaine Hyggen. “It’s only about the unachievable EHS contract condition we have been given. What Council would like to see is the opportunity to collaborate with our partners on options that could work for all parties.” 

After a motion to rescind the previous decision was defeated (7-2), City Council upheld its original decision, which was approved 9-0 on March 24. This motion directed City Administration to: 

• Strategically notify Emergency Health Services – Alberta that the City of Lethbridge does not agree in advance to cover any additional costs associated with a new EMS Ground Ambulance Agreement while preserving the City’s right to participate in further negotiations and/or a request for proposals process.

Figures presented at the April 30 Community Issues Committee meeting show EHS funding changes could add $3.7 million in local costs in 2027, a 1.8 per cent tax increase. That cost was expected to grow to $4.2 million in 2028 and $4.6 million by 2029.

Over the next three years, the average Lethbridge home ($387,000), would have paid an additional $182 in taxes, just to support EMS. This would be above and beyond Provincial education tax increases (collected on municipal property taxes) and other significant cost pressures facing the City. 

“We know the financial pressures this would put on our City budgets,” says Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, Darrell Mathews. “These costs will continue to escalate and we know that is not sustainable in the future.”

Council also voted (7–2) not to extend the current contract beyond its end date of September 30, 2026. EHS has indicated new contracts would be in place as early as April 2027, the City believes extending the current agreement would just create more uncertainty for Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services.

EHS has said that if the City did not agree to taking on additional costs, they would move to an open procurement process or a direct delivery model to operate local EMS.

The City remains open to further talks with its partners. If EHS makes the decision to continue with procurement, the City will evaluate all options and the viability of submitting a proposal.

More information and background are available at https://getinvolvedlethbridge.ca/ems-contract.

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