Wood Buffalo mayor says top 2022 priority is to bring EMS dispatch back to Fort McMurray

Wood Buffalo's mayor says one of the biggest priorities for the region heading into 2022 is working with the province to bring EMS dispatch back to Fort McMurray. 

Mayor Sandy Bowman said the municipality has been working with the province, and talking to Health Minister Jason Copping about the concerns. 

In January, the province put Wood Buffalo on the provincial dispatch system, despite resistance from local government. 

Bowman said he's optimistic and he's spoken to Copping several times about the issue.

"He's a very fact-based, very smart minister and I believe he's going to do the right thing," said Bowman. 

"We've had several meetings in reference to EMS." 

Bowman said the municipality is trying to make sure the government knows "our EMS system here… not only works better, but it should be the benchmark for the rest of the province."

He said right now the focus is on providing the minister with the facts, including recorded EMS dispatch calls. 

Bowman said the problems that were present when the dispatch was first switched over are still present today. Mainly, that it can take emergency services longer to arrive because the provincial dispatchers aren't familiar with local locations, like the 'bridge to nowhere' that runs over the Athabasca River. 

"It's hard to listen to," said Bowman, who has listened to some emergency call recordings. 

In an email, Steve Buick, press secretary for Copping, said the minister is "grateful" for Bowman's and other mayors' commitment to "ensuring the best possible EMS services for their residents."

The minister is meeting with Bowman in January as part of the Dispatch Working Group, said Buick. He added the EMS system is "under pressure along with the overall health system." 

"We're supporting AHS in responding by increasing the EMS budget and adding staff, and addressing specific issues with dispatch and other aspects of EMS operations," said Buick. 

As well, the minister will consider information brought forward by the municipality, and "work with them to find solutions to improve services to their residents."