Ontario Investing $29,275,767 for Annual Land Ambulance Services in Durham Region

Nearly $764 Million in Funding will Help Municipalities Across Ontario with Increased Costs of Land Ambulance Operations

Whitby — The Ontario government is investing nearly $764 million in the province’s annual Land Ambulance Service Grant (LASG) to help municipalities facing increased cost pressures in their emergency departments. As part of this funding, Durham Region will receive $29,275,767 to support the hiring of additional paramedics, wage and cost of living adjustments and general ambulance services operation to meet the needs of the local community.

Through the LASG, municipalities receive funding for 50 per cent of the costs for their land ambulance operations. This funding is part of the government’s commitment to building a modern, sustainable and connected emergency health system that supports every Ontarian on their health care journey. This also supports the government’s work on the Plan to Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery, to ease pressures on our health care system, hire more health care workers and providing the right care in the right place to Ontarians.

In addition, the Ontario government is also continuing to fund 100 per cent of costs for Central Ambulance Communications Centres (CACCs) to dispatch ambulances, helping to deliver equitable emergency health services to Ontarians across the province.

“The people in Whitby and other parts of the Region of Durham are counting on all levels of government to come together and get it done,” said Whitby MPP Lorne Coe. “This funding which supports ambulance operations is yet another way the government is ensuring Region of Durham residents can receive emergency health services they need, when they need it.” ”

We have listened to the concerns of The Region of Durham about land ambulance services and we have responded. We will continue to work with the Region of Durham to enhance the delivery of land ambulance services for the Peter Bethlenfalvy MPP, Pickering-Uxbridge Lorne Coe MPP, Whitby Patrice Barnes MPP, Ajax Todd McCarthy MPP, Durham benefit of the residents of Pickering-Uxbridge and across the Durham Region,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge.

“This Investment demonstrates the Ontario PC Government’s commitment to expanding Land Ambulance Services all across Durham Region” said Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham. “Expanding Land Ambulance Services is a key investment towards easing the pressures on our emergency and acute care system and supports our government’s commitment to stay open.”

“Ontario’s PC Government’s commitment to expanding Land Ambulance Services can be demonstrated by this investment” said Patrice Barnes, MPP for Ajax. “This investment will ease pressure on our emergency and acute care system, as well as ensure better service for the residents of Durham.”

“Paramedics provide the critical emergency health care that our community relies upon. The Land Ambulance Service Grant is a successful funding partnership with the Province that supports the Region’s ability to recruit paramedics and operate over forty ambulances across the Region. As Durham’s population grows, we will also require growth in our paramedic services. On behalf of Durham Region, I would like to thank the continued funding and support for Durham Region Paramedic Services,” said John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Region of Durham.

QUICK FACTS

In 2022, upper-tier municipalities and designated delivery agents are receiving nearly $764 million in funding from the government, representing an average increase of five per cent provincially compared to 2021 funding levels.
LASG funding is provided on a 50-50 cost share basis with UTMs and DDAs and is based on the previous year’s council-approved operating budgets. Municipalities and DDAs are responsible for determining the provision and costs of land ambulance services that meet the needs of their community, including appropriate staffing levels.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Ontario Introduces A Plan to Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery
For resources in multiple languages to help local communication efforts in responding to COVID-19, visit Ontario’s COVID-19 communication resources webpage.
Visit Ontario’s COVID-19 information website to learn more about how the province continues to protect the people of Ontario from the virus.
For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (Tollfree in Ontario only).

Shannon Thornton-Weir Executive
Assistant Lorne Coe
MPP Whitby
Lorne.coeco@pc.ola.org
905-430-1141

Safa Khan
Executive Assistant
Peter Bethlenfalvy

MPP, Pickering-Uxbridge
Safa.khan@pc.ola.org
905-509-0336

Doug Ellis
Executive Assistant
Todd McCarthy
MPP Durham
Todd.mccarthy@pc.ola.org
(905) 697-1501

Andrew Ward
Executive Assistant
Patrice Barnes
MPP, Ajax
Patrice.Barnes@pc.ola.org
705-927-3585