Update on ground ambulance service - July 28, 2026
Hello Spruce Grove residents,
I want to share an update on ambulance service in Spruce Grove following another development from the Province today.
In March, Emergency Health Services – Alberta (EHS-AB) advised municipalities with integrated Fire-EMS operations, like Spruce Grove, that the Province was restructuring its ground ambulance service agreements. Under the proposed funding model, the City would either need to absorb a significant funding shortfall to maintain our integrated service or transition ambulance operations to an alternate provider selected by the Province.
In June, the Province paused its procurement process and indicated it would work with affected municipalities on a path forward. We were cautiously optimistic this might provide an opportunity to maintain our integrated Fire-EMS model without requiring a permanent municipal tax subsidy of a provincial responsibility.
However, during our July 16 meeting with the Honourable Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services, we were advised that the procurement pause did not mean the Province was prepared to negotiate a different funding model for Spruce Grove or the other affected municipalities. Based on that information, Council’s direction to transition to provincially delivered ambulance service on October 1 remained in place.
Today, July 28, we received a letter from the Minister advising that the Province intends to engage an independent third party to review the costing benchmark used to fund ground ambulance services. This is the same benchmark rate EHS-AB is using to determine provincial funding for integrated services like ours.
The Province has been clear that the review “should not be interpreted as a commitment that the benchmark will increase or decrease.” The review is expected to be completed by September 30, just one day before our planned October 1 transition.
Given this new development, we believe it is important to have the opportunity to review the findings and understand what, if anything, they could mean for Spruce Grove. Therefore, we have requested that the Province extend our transition date to November 1, 2026, to which they have agreed.
Council remains committed to exhausting every reasonable avenue available to us. If the review provides a viable path to maintaining our integrated model without requiring municipal taxpayers to absorb a significant funding shortfall for a provincial service, we need the opportunity to properly consider it. If it does not, we will continue working toward a safe and orderly transition to provincially delivered ambulance service.
I want to be clear that ambulance service is not leaving Spruce Grove and reassure residents about what that transition could look like. Our preliminary discussions with AHS contemplate two fully staffed, 24/7 Advanced Life Support ambulances continuing to operate from the same ambulance bays at our Protective Services building. AHS has also indicated it may be interested in purchasing our existing ambulances and offering employment opportunities to affected paramedics who are interested in continuing with the provincial service.
While those details are not yet finalized, from a resident’s perspective, day-to-day ambulance service would look very similar to what we have today.
Regardless of the outcome, our Fire Services will continue responding to medical emergencies. Council is committed to maintaining Medical First Response so our firefighters can continue providing care when needed until an ambulance arrives.
We do not yet know whether this latest review will change the path forward. What I can assure residents is that Council will continue doing the work, asking the questions and considering every option available to us to ensure the best possible outcome for our community, while protecting emergency medical care and being responsible with municipal tax dollars.
We will continue to keep residents informed as we learn more. An overview of the situation and timeline outlining the process to date is also available on the City’s website.
Jeff Acker, Mayor
City of Spruce Grove