This story has been updated with a statement from Alberta’s Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services Adriana LaGrange.
Lethbridge is among the communities that operate integrated fire and emergency medical services welcoming a move by the province to pause what could also be described as the current process for procuring ground ambulance services.
In a statement issued Monday afternoon, Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen said the mayors of the seven communities that operate integrated Fire and EMS received correspondence from Alberta’s Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services Adriana LaGrange stating Emergency Health Services had been directed to stop the current procurement process effective immediately.
“Minister LaGrange informed us that effective immediately, she has directed Emergency Health Services to halt the current ground ambulance procurement approach and work with us to develop a more effective path forward,” the statement reads. “Given how important EMS is to our community, we are grateful the Province is taking a second look at how best to move forward.”
The mayor added there is still significant work ahead but expressed optimism about the decision and the opportunity for municipalities and the province to work together on next steps.
The union representing Lethbridge firefighters welcomed the province’s decision and thanked residents who had voiced concerns about the procurement process.
In a statement, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 237 thanked LaGrange and Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf. The statement said the government’s decision indicated that frontline firefighters and community members saw their concerns acknowledged by government.
According to local union officials, firefighters and paramedics will continue staffing emergency response vehicles and ambulances in the city while discussions on a revised approach continue.
In a post on X on Monday, LaGrange said the province needs to “deliver emergency health services in a consistent, fiscally responsible and patient-focused way — and we need to get this right.”
“EHS Alberta will work with these communities to design a strategy that supports them and brings costs in line with provincially delivered EHS services by 2028-29,” LaGrange wrote. “This gives communities the time and support needed to plan, adapt and build sustainable services while ensuring emergency health services are always there when Albertans need them.”
Uncertainty over the future of Lethbridge’s integrated fire and ambulance service has been a topic of discussion in the city over the past several months, with council voting in May to uphold a previous decision not to pre-approve additional emergency medical services costs tied to the agreement tabled by the province at the time.
Under the original direction from the province, the City of Lethbridge would have maintained the 114-year-old integrated service until Sept. 30 of this year.
