Cold Lake councillors have deferred a decision on whether or not to grant paramedics free access to the Cenovus Energy Centre for fitness training. This deliberation was prompted by a meeting on March 19, where RCMP requested access to the facility due to space constraints at their detachment.
At the latest meeting, council members addressed a letter from Jason Spears of Associated Ambulance, representing Cold Lake’s paramedics, advocating for expanded access to the Cenovus Energy Centre. City Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Nagoya revisited the council’s previous recommendation of a one-year pilot project for RCMP access at the fitness centre.
Mayor Craig Copeland highlighted the importance of supporting essential services like the RCMP, anticipating similar requests from other sectors. He underscored the significance of physical fitness for individuals in these fields to maintain their strength. He supported extending access to paramedics under guidelines similar to those of the RCMP’s pilot project.
“So, I have no problem supporting under the same guidelines as the RCMP. It was a one-year trial. I don’t know how many people are really going to take us up on it, but I think it’s important that the ambulance people are in good shape and can carry hundreds of pounds of people. That’s just my own thoughts. It doesn’t bother me.”
However, council members expressed varied viewpoints on the proposal. Coun. Adele Richardson voiced her reservations about extending access to paramedics under conditions similar to the RCMP’s, emphasizing the situational nature of the RCMP’s request due to space constraints.
Similarly, Coun. Vicki Lefebvre raised concerns about setting a precedent and the potential ripple effect of granting additional emergency service personnel access. To ensure fairness, she suggested exploring alternative solutions, such as volume discounts for healthcare professionals at other facilities.
After considering the different perspectives, council members decided to defer a decision. After evaluating the RCMP’s participation in the pilot project, they agreed to revisit the issue in the spring of 2025.
The decision to defer reflects the council’s commitment to thoroughly assess the implications of extending access to the Cenovus Energy Centre while ensuring equitable treatment across various emergency service sectors