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. At this time, EHS has not provided details about what is included in the benchmark cost or how it is calculated. 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.

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, they would not be integrated with the Fire Service, and it is unclear what level of EMS service they would be mandated to provide.

We are unable to do a fair analysis of the cost to provide EMS services as EHS has not provided detailed information about what their benchmark costs include and, more importantly, what is not included in that price.

We do know there will be a cost to the City whether we remain the EMS provider or not. There will a loss of efficiencies and additional costs to the Fire department if it is no longer integrated with EMS.

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.

This is an evolving and complex situation that still has many unknowns. The City’s leadership team is working diligently to gather information internally and seek out critical information from EHS. These details will help validate assumptions and ensure any information shared is accurate, transparent and fair.

Understanding the collective impact of EHS’ decisions, we are also meeting regularly with our partner municipalities in the other integrated fire and emergency services communities. Together, we are advocating to the Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services to ask for a more collaborative negotiation and partnership with EHS on contract discussions.

It is critical that we gather the most complete information, to support City Council in their decision-making moving forward.

When EHS first notified the City of this requirement on March 13, a March 31^st deadline was given to make this complex and important decision. The City, along with the other impacted communities, have been advocating for more time and information. That deadline has since been extended to May 30, 2026.

Since 2009, when EMS moved under provincial jurisdiction, contracts have been reached through collaborative negotiations that consider the needs of all parties.

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