FAQs about EMS

EHS (formerly Alberta Health Services) has indicated that, in order to keep the EMS contract, the City would have to agree, in advance, to fund anything above EHS’ benchmark cost. The City has been informed that if it does not agree to these conditions, EHS will begin a procurement process to secure a different EMS provider or move to a direct delivery model.

For more than a century, Lethbridge has operated an integrated Fire & Emergency Services model that provides a high standard of care for the community. Staff are currently trained as both paramedics and firefighters with shared locations, training and resources.

Losing EMS would dismantle a system we have long supported and take great pride in.

If a new EMS provider is procured by EHS or EHS moves to a direct delivery model, they would not be integrated with the Fire Service, and it is unclear what level of EMS service they would be mandated to provide.

In addition to funding from the provincial EMS contract, local taxpayers contribute $3.5 million each year to maintain an integrated fire and EMS service. Proposed funding changes from EHS could have a significant impact on Lethbridge taxpayers, adding $3.7 million in local costs in 2027, a 1.8 per cent tax increase. That cost is expected to grow to $4.2 million in 2028 and $4.6 million by 2029.

On the flipside, if the City were to move to a fire-only service, there would still be an additional $1.1 million tax pressure. This is because there are many share costs between fire and EMS like building costs, supplies and training that will still need to be funded in a fire-only model. 

No, the City of Lethbridge is one of seven integrated services across the province. With the exception of the Municipality of Wood Buffalo, all have been given the same contract notification from EHS.

A detailed analysis of the operational and financial impacts of this change were presented at the April 30 Community Issues Committee meeting. This included a recommendation from administration to not accept the Province’s proposed new contract conditions for emergency medical services (EMS) due to the impact on Lethbridge taxpayers, while preserving the right to participate in further negotiations and/or request for proposal processes. This will move forward to a special meeting of City Council on May 5 for a decision.

The deadline for the City to inform EHS of their decision is May 31, 2026. The CIC recommendation has been referred to a special meeting of City Council on May 5 for discussion and a decision.

Since 2009, when EMS moved under provincial jurisdiction, contracts have been reached through collaborative negotiations..

The current contract with EHS is set to expire on September 30, 2026.  

When regional health authorities merged into Alberta Health Services (AHS) in 2009, EMS moved from a municipal to provincial responsibility. Since that time, the City has been contracted by EHS (formerly AHS) to provide EMS in Lethbridge.

Integrated Fire/EMS Services is a public safety service delivery model in which fire suppression, emergency medical services (EMS), rescue, and related emergency response functions are provided through a single, unified organization. Personnel are cross-trained and resources are shared, allowing for coordinated command, deployment, and response to both fire and medical emergencies from the same stations under a common governance and operational structure.

Lethbridge currently provides an integrated Fire and EMS service which allows for enhanced coordination of emergency response. 

• All LFES ambulances are Advanced Life Support (ALS) units, meaning they can provide a higher level of care than Basic Life Support (BLS) units. – See FAQ on the difference in ALS and BLS.
• LFES’ integrated service provides an enhanced hazmat response when compared to fire-only departments. 
• A Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) unit works with Lethbridge Police Service to embed paramedics in high-risk incidents to provide immediate medical care to injured civilians or officers.

In Alberta, ambulances are either Advanced Life Support (ALS) or Basic Life Support (BLS). ALS ambulances are staffed by highly trained paramedics and can provide advanced medical care, including medications and life‑saving treatments, before reaching the hospital. BLS ambulances provide essential care such as CPR, oxygen and patient stabilization, but do not offer the same level of advanced treatment. In Lethbridge all ambulances are ALS.

On March 26, 2026 EHS indicated to the City that it wanted to pursue the contract extension option available in the current contract for 2.5 years. City Administration is recommending Council not accept this extension for several reasons.

• As EHS has indicated in their March 13 News Release, contract extensions would be issued to facilitate the negotiations of new single source contracts or the procurement process to secure an alternate service provider.

• EHS has also continued to message that they plan to have new contracts in place between April and September 2027 so it is the City’s understanding that the extension would only be for approximately 12 months past the September 30, 2026 contract end date, not 2.5 years.This would be achieved by EHS triggering the contract’s early termination clause.
• The City needs a long-term contract for planning and to create stability within the Lethbridge Fire & Emergency Services (LFES) department. 

Ultimately, this does not provide any more certainty or stability to the Lethbridge Fire & Emergency Services department.