(Image Credit: LNN file photo)

By Haven Thibert

May 31 Deadline

Lethbridge seeks more time to review EMS contract with Province

Mar 25, 2026 | 3:31 PM

Lethbridge city council is asking the Alberta government for more time and information before deciding on its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) contract with Emergency Health Services (EHS).

Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to continue discussions and push for more clarity.

On March 13, EHS told the City that to begin negotiations for a new contract, Lethbridge must first agree to cover any costs above the provincial benchmark.

The original deadline of March 31, 2026, has now been extended to May 31, 2026.

However, the city says it still hasn’t received a cost estimate from the province.

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“Yeah, there’s still no number—and that’s the toughest part,” said Mayor Blaine Hyggen.

“We don’t know what the actual cost will be, so we need that information before we can make any firm decisions.”

Council also plans to send a joint advocacy letter with six other Alberta municipalities that run integrated fire and EMS services.

Mayor Hyggen stressed the urgency of the situation.

“Our emergency services are extremely important to our community, and we will do everything possible to make sure that we have this dealt with in a quick manner,” he said.

The city notes Lethbridge has been providing EMS care since 1912 and has operated an integrated Fire and EMS model since 2009 under contract with EHS.

In this model, staff are trained as both paramedics and firefighters, sharing resources and working out of the same fire stations.

A newer EMS division allows some staff to focus only on paramedicine, aimed at improving flexibility and reducing costs.

EHS has indicated that if the city does not agree in advance to cover costs above the provincial standard, it will begin looking for another EMS provider through a procurement process.

The city says similar notices have been sent to other Alberta municipalities, though details about the process remain unclear.

Mayor Hyggen said Lethbridge is committed to maintaining high-quality emergency services, but that may come at a cost.

“We’re providing a service that’s above the level that they provide in the rest of the province. And so if you want to keep that, maybe that’s something that’s in the cost that will be incurred through taxation. And that’s the only way that you could find those costs.”

The current EMS contract expires Sept. 30, 2026.

Council says it will continue working with provincial partners to ensure residents receive reliable, high-quality EMS care.