City Statement on EMS

We value our emergency services employees and view them as an important part of our public safety system.

The current rates of pay for the City of Lethbridge Emergency Medical Services (EMS), which is represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) union, are up to 40 per cent higher than the compensation paid by Emergency Health Services (EHS) - Alberta for the same ground ambulance work.

In March of 2026, EHS notified various municipalities, including the City, that it would no longer fund the difference to provide this provincial service. Within various municipalities in Alberta there were two responses: some gave notice to stop providing EMS, while others opted to absorb their higher wage costs.

Lethbridge has chosen a balanced approach and moved to a competitive bidding process to obtain a financially sustainable new contract. In participating in this competitive process, the City is focused on saving and retaining jobs.

Reaching a market-competitive rate through collaboration with IAFF is critical to retaining the EMS contract and these jobs.

Municipal tax-payers deserve high-quality emergency services but at fair market rates.

Given that the City is in active bargaining with the IAFF, we will have no further statements on this matter.

For full details on this topic visit https://getinvolvedlethbridge.ca/ems-contract.