Lethbridge Fire and EMS --LNN

By Connor Gunn

Council opts to pay for EMS dispatch in Lethbridge

Dec 1, 2020 | 12:15 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB– The Alberta Government’s attempting to make 911 dispatch services more fiscally efficient, would mean Lethbridge calls would be dispatched from somewhere far away, possibly making wait times longer.

In spite of appeals by the city, the province won’t budge on the decision. For that reason, Lethbridge City Council passed a motion to forego the $1.2 Million annual payment from Alberta Health Services, in order to retain the city’s EMS dispatch.

Previous story: Province consolidating 911 EMS dispatch services, impacting Lethbridge

Mayor Chris Spearman will now write a letter to Premier Kenney to let the province know Lethbridge intends to retain dispatch services.

The payment to maintain Integrated Fire and EMS response in Lethbridge avoided added costs to Lethbridge municipal taxpayers.

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Read more: Mayors plea to Kenney: take action on 911 EMS dispatch consolidation

The provincial audit of AHS by Ernst and Young identified $6 Million in savings by consolidating EMS dispatch services…but, in an attempt to keep their own dispatch, Wood Buffalo, Red Deer, and Lethbridge want to opt-out of the consolidation.

In an attempt to keep the services, Spearman says this is “the last Hail Mary.”