THUNDER BAY – It’s “a spectacular announcement for our service,” Superior North EMS chief Shane Muir said Wednesday after Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland announced a 13 per cent increase for land ambulance funding.
“With this boost in funding, our service will continue to acquire essential equipment (and) ambulances and enhance our service delivery for all the communities we serve,” Muir said.
Operated by the City of Thunder Bay, Superior North EMS has response stations in 13 other district communities, from Upsala to Terrace Bay.
It employs more than 200 paramedics and has a fleet of nearly 50 vehicles to serve a population of about 160,000.
“Our government’s 13 per cent increase in land ambulance funding will help municipalities manage rising costs while ensuring high-quality emergency services,” said Holland, also an associate minister in Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet.
“Our government appreciates and understands the pressures that the service is under,” including increased operating costs, he said at Superior North EMS headquarters on Junot Avenue.
“I'm happy to be here today to announce that increased funding for them.”
The 13 per cent increase brings the province’s funding for Superior North ambulance services this year to $18.96 million, according to Holland.
The funding boost “definitely helps with the rising costs” of operating an ambulance service, Muir said.
Holland also announced additional funding in Thunder Bay through the province’s Dedicated Offload Nurses Program to hire more nurses and other health professionals dedicated to processing ambulance patients at hospital emergency departments.
The offload nurses program allows paramedics to get back into the community faster and respond to their next 9-1-1 call sooner, Holland said.
Holland said the province is continuing implementation of the Medical Priority Dispatch System, which Muir said has improved efficiency at Superior North EMS.
The dispatch system has been put in place at EMS centres in Kenora, Ottawa, Mississauga and Renfrew as well as Thunder Bay, and will be implemented at 15 more dispatch sites across Ontario, according to a news release from Holland’s office.
Coun. Dominic Pasqualino, as acting mayor of Thunder Bay, said with the province’s help Superior North EMS can “continue to deliver high-quality service” while managing costs.