Strathcona County accepts provincial EMS contract to maintain ambulance service

Strathcona County Council has approved accepting the Government of Alberta’s Emergency Health Services (EHS) contract offer for ground ambulance services, ensuring the continuation of locally delivered ambulance care through Strathcona County Emergency Services (SCES).

Health care, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS), is a provincial responsibility. On March 13, 2026, EHS notified Strathcona County and other communities with integrated fire and EMS services that provincial funding for municipal ambulance contracts would be reduced. Municipalities opting to maintain ground ambulance contracts must absorb additional costs over and above the amount offered under the new contract terms. A new ground ambulance service provider will be identified effective April 1, 2027 for those communities that decline the contract.

“This was very challenging, and Council did not take this decision lightly,” says Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank. “Every option and its impact on residents was taken into serious consideration. Maintaining locally delivered ambulance service through our integrated Fire EMS model best supports the safety and well being of our community.”

By accepting the contract, Strathcona County will continue to operate four ambulances 24 hours a day, seven days a week, staffed by SCES personnel who are trained as both firefighters and paramedics. Community Response Units (CRUs) will also remain in service, responding to both urgent medical and fire rescue calls throughout the County.

Accepting the EHS contract will result in increased municipal costs due to the reduced level of provincial funding. Beginning in 2027, the financial impact of maintaining ambulance service under the new contract is estimated to require a 0.73 per cent municipal property tax increase ($2.3 million annually), with additional increases anticipated in future years due to inflation and collective agreement costs.

“This decision ensures continuity of high quality care delivered by Strathcona County Emergency Services,” says Mayor Frank. “Our integrated Fire EMS model has served this community well for decades, and residents have told us they value the service they receive.”

In 2025, Strathcona County responded to 13,156 EMS calls, and 90 per cent of respondents to the county’s patient care survey reported satisfaction with their emergency services experience.

Strathcona County is one of six Alberta municipalities that received similar funding notices from EHS this spring. Each municipality is making its own independent decision in response to the provincial changes.

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Contact: Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595 www.strathcona.ca