A new ambulance will be coming to Bonnyville. Both the town as well as the Municipal District of Bonnyville councils have agreed to split the difference in a $50,000 funding shortfall from Alberta Health Services for the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority. AHS took over ambulances in a contract originally signed in 2013. That contract has been renewed until 2020.
Deputy Fire Chief Jay Melvin says the BRFA has faced issues with AHS when it comes running the ambulance program. AHS replacement lifespan for ambulances currently sits at seven years. Melvin believes that number should be at four to five years due to the cost of servicing high-kilometre units to keep them in the fleet.
Patient transfers using the ambulance service have also increased since the contract was drawn up seven years ago.