Message to residents from Mayor Jeff Acker: An update on ambulance services in Spruce Grove

Over the past several weeks, Council has heard from many residents with questions and concerns about the delivery of ambulance services in Spruce Grove. This has been a difficult time for our community, for our firefighters and paramedics, and for their families. We understand why so many people have reached out, and we appreciate everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts and concerns.

Yesterday, City Manager Dean Screpnek and I met with Honourable Adriana LaGrange, Alberta’s Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services. We requested the meeting because we wanted one last opportunity to determine whether the Province was prepared to take a different approach before this transition moved forward.

The Minister confirmed the Province is not prepared to negotiate a different funding model for Spruce Grove or other affected municipalities. While that wasn’t the outcome we had hoped for, it provided the clarity we needed to move forward.

The question I’ve heard most often from residents is simple: Will my family continue to receive the emergency medical care we need when we call 911?

That question has guided every conversation we’ve had with the Province and every decision Council has made throughout this process. From the beginning, our goal has always been clear: ensuring residents continue to receive the emergency medical care they rely on while also being responsible with taxpayer dollars.

Since March, Council has listened to residents, consulted with our emergency services staff, met with the Province, and explored every opportunity to preserve our integrated Fire EMS model. We also have been open and transparent with our local IAFF leadership, providing updates as they became available.  We remain proud of our firefighters and paramedics who built our integrated service and have earned the trust and respect of our community. This decision was never about the quality of their work or the care they provide.

The difficult decision before Council was whether it was appropriate to ask Spruce Grove taxpayers to permanently subsidize a provincial health care service they already support through their provincial taxes.

While municipalities have been given more time to meet the Province’s funding benchmarks, accepting the Province’s proposal would mean an ongoing municipal subsidy starting at approximately $1 million in the first year, growing to roughly $1.5 million within five years and exceeding $2 million annually within a decade, with no certainty about future provincial funding.

I know some residents would have been willing to pay higher municipal taxes to preserve our integrated Fire EMS model, and I respect that perspective. Council carefully considered that option but ultimately concluded residents should not be asked to permanently subsidize a provincial health care service when the Province has committed to directly delivering ambulance services in Spruce Grove.

The transition to provincially delivered ambulance service will move forward on October 1, 2026.

The Province has committed to the following as the transition moves forward:

• Two fully staffed Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week and based in Spruce Grove.
• Ambulance crews permanently co-located at the City’s Protective Services building.
• A pathway for City employees affected by the transition who wish to move to EHS AB.

It’s also important to remember that our ambulances already operate as part of Alberta’s provincial EMS system. They regularly respond throughout the region, just as ambulances from neighbouring communities respond in Spruce Grove when needed. While the organization providing the service will change, emergency medical care will continue to be delivered through Alberta’s provincial EMS system.

Residents can also be assured that our Medical First Response program will remain in place. Spruce Grove firefighters will keep responding to medical emergencies and providing care until an ambulance arrives, just as they do today.

This transition has also created uncertainty for the dedicated firefighters and paramedics who have served our community for years, along with their families. While the Province has committed to providing a pathway for employees who wish to transition to EHS AB, we recognize this represents a significant change for several members of our Protective Services team.

The Province has also committed to providing the City with its formal transition plan by July 31. Once we receive it, we’ll share it with residents and explain what it means for Spruce Grove.

Yesterday’s meeting confirmed that the Province’s decision will stand. Council’s responsibility now is to ensure the Province delivers on every commitment it has made to Spruce Grove. We will closely monitor the transition, review service levels, continue advocating for our community, and keep residents informed every step of the way.

Finally, I want to thank our firefighters, paramedics, and all of our Protective Services staff. Throughout this uncertainty, they have continued to serve our community with professionalism, compassion, and dedication. I know this transition has created stress for many of them and their families, and I want them to know how deeply they are appreciated.

I also want to thank everyone who has taken the time to ask questions, share their perspectives, and participate respectfully in this conversation. I recognize that not everyone will agree with Council’s decision, and I respect those differing views. Throughout this process, one thing has been clear: people care deeply about our community.

Council remains committed to advocating for the people of Spruce Grove, ensuring residents continue to receive the high quality emergency services they expect and deserve, and keeping our community informed with honest and timely information throughout this transition.

Mayor Jeff Acker