Leduc to transition out of ambulance services

The City of Leduc has made the difficult decision to transition out of operating ambulance services on behalf of the Province, following a review of its emergency medical services (EMS) contract with Emergency Health Services – Alberta (EHS-AB).

This decision was prompted by EHS-AB indicating it intends to restructure the funding terms of our contract requiring the City to absorb significant additional costs to maintain the same service. This information was given to the City in March, along with five other municipalities in Alberta that provide integrated Fire-EMS service.

The City’s contract with EHS-AB expires on Sept. 30, 2026; however, we will work with EHS-AB to ensure a smooth transition plan is in place that coincides with the opening of Fire Hall 3.

Ambulance services in Alberta are governed, funded, and dispatched by the Province through EHS, which has stated it will continue to operate in Leduc without disruption. When residents call 911 for a medical emergency, dispatchers will send fire, ambulance, or other resources as required.

Leduc as an integrated Fire-EMS service

For 17 years, Leduc has operated an integrated Fire‑EMS service, meaning the service provides both fire/rescue service and EMS. In an integrated system:

• Staff are trained as both firefighters and paramedics; they work on both fire engines and ambulances
• Fire trucks and ambulances are operated by the same department
• When someone calls 911 for a medical emergency, the same organization (like Leduc Fire Services) may send both fire engines and an ambulance

Once the City transitions out of providing ambulance services on behalf of the Province, Leduc will no longer be an integrated Fire-EMS service. While our firefighters will provide immediate, life-saving care at a primary care paramedic level until an ambulance arrives, Leduc Fire Services will not operate ambulances or transport patients.

This decision does have workforce implications for Leduc Fire Services. The City is reviewing this closely but expects the impact to be significantly mitigated by the planned opening of Fire Hall 3, reducing the need to recruit additional employees.

Is Leduc still an integrated Fire-EMS service?
Once the City transitions out of providing ambulance services on behalf of the Province, Leduc will no longer be an integrated Fire-EMS service. While our firefighters will provide immediate, life-saving care at a primary care paramedic level until an ambulance arrives, Leduc Fire Services will not operate ambulances or transport patients.

Will emergency response times be affected?
Ambulance response will continue to be coordinated through Alberta’s provincial emergency response system. Leduc Fire Services will respond, providing immediate life-saving care at a primary care paramedic level until an ambulance arrives.

Does this change mean residents will receive a lower level of care?
Residents will receive the same level of care from ambulance services through Alberta’s provincial EMS system. The level of care provided by Leduc Fire Services on the City’s fire engines will change from the advanced care paramedic level to primary care paramedic level.

Will the province dedicate ambulances to Leduc?
The province will not dedicate ambulances to Leduc because that’s not how the system currently operates. While Leduc Fire Services operates two ambulances, they are dispatched to respond to calls throughout the region by the provincial system on a regular basis. And in the same way, ambulances stationed in other communities respond to calls in Leduc. How ambulances are dispatched will not change once the City’s contract with EHS expires.

Are there other integrated Fire-EMS services in Alberta?
Seven municipalities in Alberta provide integrated Fire-EMS services. Of those, six municipalities are making independent decisions about whether to accept new contract terms from EHS and therefore continue operating as a contractor for the provincial system. The six municipalities are Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Strathcona County, Leduc, Red Deer and Lethbridge.

Is Leduc becoming an outlier by doing this?
This model reflects how emergency medical services operate in most Alberta municipalities, where ambulance services are delivered by the Province or private contractors and municipalities focus on fire and emergency medical first response. The medical first response in Leduc will be provided by primary care paramedics on engines; in most communities medical first response is provided at the first aid level (a lower level than primary care paramedic).

When will this change take effect?
The current contract with EHS expires on Sept. 30, 2026. The transition is expected to take some time and will be planned to coincide with the opening of Fire Hall 3. Implementation of the transition will be coordinated with EHS.

What should residents do if they have a medical emergency?
If you have a medical emergency, call 911 as you would always would have done. Emergency dispatchers will send fire, ambulance, or other resources as required.

Why didn’t the City share information about the decision with the community right away?
Recognizing the transition will not take place for several months, our first priority was to inform the employees who will be directly impacted—specifically, Fire Services staff. Notifying staff first is a standard and respectful approach, particularly for decisions that impact workplace operations and employee responsibilities.