New provider or pay out of pocket: Province gives Lethbridge ambulance ultimatum

Find a cheaper ambulance provider or pay out of pocket for the difference in cost — that's the ultimatum the province has issued Lethbridge. 

The southern Alberta city is one of seven municipalities to receive similar orders. All seven run an integrated fire and ambulance service. 

Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Matt Jones says the integrated delivery model is too expensive.

“We have 23 other contractor providers that … are providing the service for 40 per cent less,” Jones said. 

This comes as Emergency Health Services Alberta (EHS) negotiates new contracts with its ground ambulance providers. 

In letters sent to affected municipalities, EHS said it has identified a benchmark amount they should be spending on ambulance services. 

If Lethbridge wants to keep emergency services as is, it will have to pay for any spending above that number out of pocket.

Otherwise, the province will begin a procurement process to find a different provider to deliver ambulance services. 

“Ultimately, the municipality will have to decide,” Jones said. 

However, Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen said it’s difficult to make a decision when the province hasn’t explained what exactly the cost will be. 

“That is the toughest part of it. We don’t know what the dollar figure is,” Hyggen said. 

Municipalities were initially given two weeks to decide. That deadline has been extended to May 31. 

Hyggen said the extension is welcome, but it’s still a “heartbreaking” decision to have to make. 

“Anything that's protecting our community, you want to make sure that that service doesn't have any bumps along the way,” he said.