‘Life or death’: Lethbridge union sounds alarm over potential changes to integrated fire-EMS model

Lethbridge’s firefighters’ union is warning provincial pressure to end a century-old service model for fire and emergency health services could be a matter of “life or death” for the community.

Alberta’s Emergency Medical Services (EHS) is requesting that municipalities, including Lethbridge, decide whether they will pay the difference in cost to continue providing service through an integrated fire-EMS model.

Municipalities that choose against continuing with integrated fire-EMS models would instead become part of the competitive request for proposal to contract an outside company to provide EMS services.

“Our concern is around public safety and what that could mean for the city of Lethbridge,” said Lethbridge Fire Fighters IAFF Local 237 President Brent Nunweiler.

“It’s a risk to the public and the public needs to be aware that should the current system that’s been in place for 114 years be changed, that could mean life or death to my family, to your family and to the community.”

The contract for Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services (LFES) is set to expire on Sept. 30.

LFES, which provides 10 ambulances to the Lethbridge, has operated with an integrated model since 1912. Under the model, firefighters are trained as paramedics.

“We’re the longest-standing integrated service in North America and we’re proud of the service we provide,” Nunweiler said.

The Alberta government’s ask that municipalities decide how to fund integrated fire-EMS models comes as the province says contracting ambulance services out would be cheaper.

“New long-term contracts will provide stability for patients, communities, and service providers,” EHS-Alberta said in a statement.

“This approach supports fiscal responsibility while maintaining Alberta’s long-standing blended model of public services and contracted partners.”

The province offered no financial data to back up those claims, citing confidentiality agreements.

EHS-Alberta says if municipalities change ground ambulance service providers, it will ensure the number of resources and service levels are maintained.

But for firefighters like Nunweiler, the prospect of change doesn’t sit well.

“It’s difficult to put a cost on a life; that’s a risk to the public that I’m not willing to take,” Nunweiler said.

“The level of care we provide is top-notch, world renewed. The cardiac survival rates we’re pulling off in Lethbridge are being studied across the nation.”

The province has given the City of Lethbridge until March 31 to decide.

City council will discuss the topic during an in-camera portion of Tuesday’s meeting.

“We value our integrated fire and emergency services model and take pride in providing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to our community through our contract with Emergency Health Services,” Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen told CTV News in a statement.

“As this is an evolving situation, city council and administration are actively engaged in ongoing discussions and analysis. We are hopeful we can gain a common understanding and together, create a solution that best meets the needs of our community.”

But Nunweiler says the decision isn’t just about saving money — it’s about providing premium care and service to the community.

“For 114 years, we’ve been providing the best service, I would argue in the world, and we would like to continue providing that for the next 100 years,” he said.

“We would like to stand with the chief, with council, with city decision makers and keep this world-renewed service running exactly as it is today.”