On Oct. 30, there will be a change in how ambulance services are delivered in Leduc. After 17 years of operating ambulances on behalf of the Province through our integrated Fire-EMS model, the City will no longer provide ambulance service under contract. The service will be provided by Emergency Health Services (EHS) Alberta.
The most important thing for residents to know is that ambulance service is not leaving Leduc. If you have a medical emergency, continue to call 911, just as you do today. EHS has committed to keeping the same level of service we have now which is two 24-hour Advanced Life Support ambulances based Leduc and serving the region.
Council’s decision came down to whether it made sense for the City to sign a new contract to keep operating ambulances. After careful consideration, we decided it did not.
There were two main reasons.
The first was cost. Under the proposed provincial contract, the City would have received about $1 million less each year to operate the service. Beginning in 2027, Leduc property taxpayers would have had to make up that difference, and the cost was expected to grow over time.
Ambulance service is a provincial responsibility and already works as a regional system. Leduc-based ambulances regularly respond outside the city, just as ambulances from neighbouring communities respond in Leduc. Council did not believe local taxpayers should be asked to pay an additional $1 million each year to help fund a provincial service serving the broader region.
The second issue was how the service would operate. The proposed contract also included scheduling requirements that were not compatible with the collective agreement between the City of Leduc and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 4739. The City and the IAFF share a responsibility to respect the terms of that negotiated agreement.
This was not an easy decision. Our integrated Fire-EMS model has served Leduc very well, and we are incredibly proud of the firefighter-paramedics who have cared for residents over the past 17 years. They have been there for people on some of the hardest days of their lives, and we are deeply grateful for their service.
We also know how reassuring it is to have highly trained medical responders nearby when every minute matters. That is why Council has committed to maintaining Advanced Life Support care on Leduc fire engines for at least the next 12 months.
Our firefighter-paramedics will continue responding to medical emergencies and will be able to provide advanced care while an ambulance is on the way. Over the coming year, we will look closely at patient outcomes, how often this level of care is needed, and what is sustainable for the future.
The way ambulance service is delivered is changing, but our commitment to residents is not. When you call 911, you can be assured of emergency services, and Leduc’s firefighter-paramedics will continue to be there when our community needs them.
Mayor Lars Hansen
