05/05/2026
🚨‼️The true cost won’t show up in a budget line—it will be measured in lives lost and in the lasting mental impact on firefighters forced to stand by when they could have saved someone. That cost will far outweigh any initial savings.
This meeting is happening today. We need council to hear that we are not willing to dismantle a system that works and saves lives.
Send your emails now—before it’s too late.🚨‼️
Red Deer City Council can be reached at
[email protected]
[email protected]
MLA’s
[email protected]
[email protected]
There is a Special City Council Meeting today focused on Emergency Health Services (EHS) and Red Deer’s integrated firefighter/ambulance model.
I expect much of this meeting will take place in closed session, as it involves contract discussions.
Here’s what is available on the public agenda:
* A report on the EHS Emergency Medical Services Service Delivery Contract
* A scheduled closed session to discuss negotiations and contract details
Some important context:
* Red Deer currently operates an integrated Fire/EMS model, where firefighter-paramedics respond on both fire trucks and ambulances
* The Province is moving toward a standardized funding model that may not fully cover the cost of maintaining this integrated system
* Council will need to decide how to respond as the current agreement approaches expiry
My take:
I strongly support Red Deer’s integrated firefighter/ambulance model. In my opinion, it provides a higher level of service, better response times, and more flexibility in how emergency calls are handled.
I also support Council pushing back on this.
In my view, EHS is being short-sighted here. Trying to save money by forcing a different model may ultimately cost more in the long run, and more importantly, could impact service levels in a way that affects people when they need help the most.
