Lethbridge City Council voted 7-2 on May 12, 2026, to reject provincial Emergency Health Services contract conditions that would have resulted in millions of dollars in additional local costs. The decision upholds a March 24 vote and means the City will not agree to cover funding requirements that would have led to a 1.8 per cent tax increase for residents in 2027.
According to figures presented at an April 30 Community Issues Committee meeting, the proposed costs were set to rise significantly over the next few years. The city estimated an extra $3.7 million in 2027, climbing to $4.2 million in 2028 and reaching $4.6 million by 2029. IAFF Local 237 president Brent Nunweiler noted that for an average Lethbridge home valued at $387,000, these additional costs would have amounted to roughly $10 per month. The city calculated the cumulative impact over three years at approximately $182.
Lethbridge has operated an integrated fire and ambulance model since 1912, marking it as the longest-standing integrated emergency service system in North America. Local taxpayers currently contribute $3.5 million annually to maintain this service. Under the provincial proposal, Emergency Health Services would have reduced its contract funding by $2.7 million from current levels.
The current contract is set to expire on September 30, 2026, and council also voted 7-2 against extending it beyond that date. While other Alberta municipalities have taken different paths—with Red Deer and Strathcona County accepting the provincial proposal, and Leduc and Spruce Grove choosing to reject theirs—Lethbridge remains open to potential future negotiations. The City still has the option to participate in a future procurement process for emergency services, though officials have been notified that the province could move to an open procurement or direct delivery model if an agreement is not reached.
To help manage costs, the City had previously introduced an ambulance-only division in the latest collective agreement with IAFF Local 237, an innovative move intended to reduce wage expenses. The City, along with six other municipalities that provide integrated emergency services, has also sent a joint advocacy letter to the province. The deadline for responding to the provincial contract offer has been extended to May 31, 2026.
