Council extends EMS contract discussions to May 12

Understanding the magnitude of a decision that could impact the City’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS), City Council will have further discussions regarding the Province’s new EMS costing model.

“This is an extremely complex issue and there is a large volume of information being received from many different perspectives. Council is working to sort that out as we move towards a final decision,” says Mayor Blaine Hyggen. “We expect further discussion on May 12. We know this is difficult for our community and our staff and we thank them for their patience and understanding.”

Due to a procedural error, there was no motion to vote on today regarding the new contract conditions presented by EHS. Council instead publicly disclosed confidential direction that had already been approved.

On March 24, in a 9-0 vote, City Council directed City Administration to:

1. Engage in collaborative efforts with the “Integrated 6” to present a unified response to EHS; and 
2. 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 
3. Contact IAFF and show them the very high-level additional tax support that would be required, and float the wage reduction discussion, to match and be no higher than HSAA Rates. 

Direction No. 2 had not yet been completed as moving deadlines and changing information delayed any notification to EHS. Because there has been no action on this item, the decision could be rescinded with a two-thirds Council vote.

“In my mind, a lot has changed since March 24,” says Acting Mayor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel, “I do intend to bring this back to the May 12 Council meeting so we can vote on rescinding direction No. 2 of the motion and reconsider our decision on not accepting the EHS contract conditions.”

Council also postponed a decision on a proposed EHS contract extension as it will be impacted by the direction Council takes at the next meeting.

Figures presented at last week’s CIC meeting show EHS funding changes could add $3.7 million in local costs in 2027, a 1.8 per cent tax increase. That cost is expected to grow to $4.2 million in 2028 and $4.6 million by 2029.

EHS has said that if the City does not agree to taking on additional costs, they will move to an open procurement process or a direct delivery model to provide EMS services locally.

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