Photo by Curtis Galbraith

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

EMS presentation among highlights from Tuesday’s Grande Prairie City Council meeting

Feb 22, 2023 | 6:00 AM

A presentation from Alberta Health Services EMS was part of Grande Prairie City Council’s meeting on Tuesday.

An EMS official told council that supply chain issues were having an impact on ambulance services.

Those included microchips issues affecting manufacturers; meaning new vehicles are not being delivered on schedule.

Another problem is companies that make the chassis for ambulances are not back up to the levels they were pre-COVID.

Supply chain problems also mean it’s harder to get parts to repair ambulances and medical equipment and supplies are often in short supply.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

The presentation did say staffing issues in Grande Prairie are not as bad as in other parts of the North Zone.

There is a 10-12 per cent vacancy rate for full-time paramedics in Grande Prairie compared to 25-30 per cent rate for full-time and 45 per cent for casual.

Council passed a motion to have administration report back to the next standing committee about the fire department’s time on task and the number of calls firefighters answered without EMS backup.

Councillor Dylan Bressey made the motion, saying he’s heard concerns that firefighters are being asked to do things they are not trained to do and there being no ambulance on standby in case a firefighter is hurt while on an emergency call.

Other highlights included:

• Council has voted in favour of mowing arterial boulevards once per week in the summer to try and control weeds. Council voted to reallocate from fall operations to early summer to cover the cost.
• Council approved having Councillor Bressey replace Mayor Jackie Clayton on the 2024 Alberta Winter Games Board of Directors. Bressey will be a non-voting member.