Strathcona County Council voted 5-4 on May 12, 2026, to maintain local control of ambulance services in Sherwood Park, opting to cover a funding shortfall caused by provincial cuts. The decision ensures the community will continue to operate four ambulances around the clock, staffed by personnel from Strathcona County Emergency Services who are trained as both firefighters and paramedics.
The province notified the county on March 13, 2026, that it would reduce funding for integrated fire and emergency medical services under a new benchmark model. While emergency medical care is a provincial responsibility, the council chose to fill the resulting $2.3 million annual budget gap to prevent a change in service delivery. This choice will result in a 0.73 per cent municipal property tax increase for residents starting in 2027.
Mayor Rod Frank noted that the decision was driven by massive public interest, describing the input received as the most feedback the council has seen on any issue in the last seven or eight years. Strathcona County Emergency Services, which has operated its integrated model for more than 40 years, responded to 13,156 calls in 2025. According to the county, 90 per cent of residents who responded to a recent patient care survey reported satisfaction with their experience.
The provincial government has indicated that the new funding model is intended to address disparities between different regions of Alberta. Other municipalities have responded to the funding changes in various ways, with some opting to transition away from ambulance services while others, such as Red Deer, have chosen to maintain their existing models at a cost to their local taxpayers.
Under the agreement, the current service model will remain in place through the end of the existing contract on September 30, 2026, with the new funding terms taking effect on April 1, 2027. Future property tax increases remain possible due to inflation and rising costs associated with labor agreements.
