Ontario Strengthens Land Ambulance Services in Thunder Bay

Written by Ontario Newsroom on 25 July 2013

Gravelle and Mauro announce funding increase for Superior North EMS

“I’m pleased and proud that our government continues not only to upload costs from the municipal tax base that were downloaded by previous governments, but consistently increases the investment towards these absolutely vital services.” -- Michael Gravelle, MPP Thunder Bay-Superior North

Ontario is strengthening land ambulance services to ensure continued access to emergency health care for the residents of Thunder Bay and the area through a 4.8% funding increase to the Superior North EMS, the district’s ambulance service provider.

The province is supporting the City of Thunder Bay and Superior North EMS with $11,391,399 in funding this year for land ambulance services, an increase of $539,826 over 2012.

“Ontarians count on land ambulance service in their times of greatest need, which is why we continue to strengthen emergency health care. This support will help our emergency medical professionals to carry out their lifesaving work, and will help us achieve our goal to provide the right care, at the right time and in the right place.” explained Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

Working with municipalities to improve access to ambulance services for people across the province is part of the Action Plan for Health Care and supports the new Ontario government’s commitment to delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

Norm Gale, Chief, Superior North EMS explained the impact of funding “The Superior North Emergency Medical Services serve 150,000 citizens in the district of Thunder Bay including 15 municipalities and First Nations. This funding announcement keeps the province at its 50% commitment to fund EMS and will ensure that we will continue to deliver excellent and vital emergency medical services to citizens.”–

QUICK FACTS

Ontario has covered 50 per cent of land ambulance operating costs for municipalities since 2008.

In 2012, the land ambulance system responded to nearly two million ambulance requests and transported about one million patients.

Each year, approximately 11 per cent of Ontario’s population use the ambulance system as their initial access point to Ontario’s emergency health care system.

Every municipality is responsible for ensuring the proper provision of land ambulance services according to the needs of residents in the municipality.