For Immediate Release / May 19, 2026
City to Remain as Integrated Fire/EMS Service
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, City Council approved accepting the Government of Alberta’s ALTA Paramedic Health (APH) contract conditions for ground ambulance services, ensuring the continuation of locally delivered ambulance care through St. Albert Fire Services.
Health care, including emergency medical services (EMS), is a provincial responsibility. On March 13, 2026, APH notified the City, and other communities with integrated fire and EMS services, that provincial funding for municipal ambulance contracts would be significantly 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.
By accepting the Government’s conditions, the City will continue to provide uninterrupted service to residents as a contract service provider of APH. Accepting the APH 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 generate a 1.2 per cent municipal property tax impact ($1.7 million), with additional increases anticipated in future years due to inflation and collective agreement costs.
Moving ahead, Council looks forward to ensuring that residents of St. Albert continue to receive the same quality level of pre-hospital care our community deserves and has come to expect.
In 2025, St. Albert Fire Services responded to 6,052 EMS calls. Our team continues to successfully respond to the needs of our community with professionalism and care.
The City of St. Albert is one of six Alberta municipalities that received similar funding notices from APH this spring. Each municipality has made its own independent decision in response to the provincial changes over the past two weeks.
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Last edited: May 19, 2026