Strathcona County council voting on future of ambulance services
Posted May 12, 2026 11:52 am.
Last Updated May 12, 2026 6:40 pm.
Ambulance services in Strathcona County and elsewhere could soon look a little different.
Alberta municipalities with integrated Fire and Emergency Medical Services are faced with a funding dilemma: the province wants to take over funding contracts for ambulance services.
Strathcona County councillors weighed the pros and cons of the change at a council meeting in Sherwood Park Tuesday. They will vote on whether to transition away from operating their own ambulance services — meaning they will be fully governed, funded and operated by the province.
The alternative is paying out of pocket.
This comes as Alberta’s Emergency Health Services (EHS) negotiated new contracts with its ground ambulance providers.
Alberta Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Matt Jones told reporters Monday if a municipality wants to keep emergency services as is, it will have to pay for any spending above the benchmark identified by the province.
Jones says service levels should not be affected under a new provider.
Some counties like Leduc have already chosen the provincial model.
