Letter To Government of Alberta Re: Emergency Medical Services Delivery

 
March 31, 2026
 
Dear Minister Jones,

On behalf of the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, we are writing regarding the future delivery of Emergency Medical Services in Lethbridge and the broader implications this decision may have for regional economic competitiveness in southern Alberta.

We understand that Emergency Health Services falls within the Hospital and Surgical Health Services portfolio, and we appreciate the province’s responsibility to ensure services are sustainable, accountable, and aligned with provincial priorities.

At the same time, we respectfully submit that this discussion should not be viewed solely through a standardized cost or procurement lens. For secondary cities such as Lethbridge, emergency response capacity is not only a health service. It is also a foundational element of economic competitiveness, labour force confidence, and regional investment readiness.

Lethbridge functions as a service centre for a much broader region than its municipal population alone would suggest. As a secondary city, it supports surrounding rural communities, employers, institutions, transportation activity, and regional supply chains.
Decisions affecting core emergency response infrastructure in Lethbridge therefore have consequences well beyond city boundaries.

This principle aligns with the Chamber’s recent policy work on strengthening economic competitiveness in rural and secondary cities. That policy recognizes that mid-sized cities occupy a structural gap: they are expected to provide the hospitals, post-secondary institutions, industrial lands, transportation links, and public services that support a wider region, while operating with more limited fiscal tools than major metropolitan centres.

In that context, we encourage the province to apply a place-based lens to EMS decision-making in Lethbridge.

Specifically, we ask that the Government of Alberta consider the following:

First, secondary cities should not be measured the same way as primary metropolitan centres. A one-size-fits-all service model may overlook the regional role that communities like Lethbridge play in supporting both rural Alberta and provincial economic performance.

Second, emergency response systems are part of economic infrastructure. Reliable EMS capacity supports workforce safety, business continuity, investor confidence, and the attractiveness of a community for employers and skilled workers.
 
Third, regional service delivery should be assessed on outcomes and function, not only on immediate cost alignment. It is important that regional hubs are evaluated considering their service role, catchment realities, and broader economic contribution.

Fourth, policy flexibility matters. Communities who’s economic and service realities do not fit a purely standardized model should have the ability to explore solutions that reflect their role.

Accordingly, the Lethbridge Chamber respectfully asks the province to:

1. Evaluate EMS service delivery in Lethbridge using a place-based competitiveness framework, not solely a uniform provincial benchmark
2. Consider Lethbridge’s role as a secondary city and regional service hub when assessing future service models
3. Provide clear information on expected service, economic, and regional impacts associated with any proposed changes
4. Ensure that policy decisions affecting EMS do not unintentionally weaken the competitiveness of communities that serve as anchors for broader rural regions