City remains committed to integrated Fire and EMS
Yesterday, City Council made a very difficult decision in an effort to find a sustainable way to maintain Lethbridge’s integrated Fire & Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Refusing the financial impacts of Emergency Health Services (EHS) – Alberta’s contract conditions does not mean the City wants to walk away from an integrated service. It means that an alternative solution needs to be found. This continues to be the direction of City Council.
The Importance of EMS
City Council supports and values integrated emergency services. For more than a century, this model has supported the health and safety of the community by providing a high standard of care. City Council and Administration continue to focus on solutions that will preserve this system.
Community Feedback
Over the last few weeks, hundreds of residents have expressed their concerns over losing integrated Fire & EMS. Those concerns are being heard, and all efforts are being made to find a solution that can create a sustainable way forward. Thank you to the community for sharing your thoughts, concerns and stories on this important and impactful issue.
Cost of Service
The emergency services operated in Lethbridge are very high quality and effective, but that level of service is also expensive. These are provincial health care costs that will continue to escalate for Lethbridge taxpayers if not addressed.
To help mitigate costs, an EMS-only division was introduced in the latest collective agreement between the City and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) union. This is a first-of-its-kind, innovative solution to reduce wage costs. The City had expected time and collaboration from EHS to implement this system and work on options that could make both organizations successful. Unfortunately, that has not been the reality.
Other Pressures
There are several financial pressures facing the City. Some of these are impacts from Provincial decisions like the cost of body worn cameras and loss of photo radar revenue. Some are needs that fall squarely within the municipality’s responsibility and must be addressed. Council has to look at the big picture of all needs when considering budgets. That is why the goal is to find a more financially sustainable way to maintain the integrated service.
Next Steps
This is a highly complex issue with many moving parts including operational considerations, service delivery standards, staffing, governance and long-term financial sustainability. Now that the decision has been made to not accept the EHS contract condition, more important work is ahead.
New approaches like reducing non-emergent interfacility transfers could be explored to create efficiencies. The City remains optimistic that we can work with our partners to find these types of solution to meet the needs of our community and frontline responders. This could include further negotiations and/or responding to an expression of interest from the Province.
More Information
A full list of FAQs, timelines, key dates and news updates on this issue is available at: https://getinvolvedlethbridge.ca/ems-contract