MPP Rickford Announces Nearly $5.4 M for Annual Land Ambulance Services in Rainy River District

FORT FRANCES – The Ontario government is investing nearly $5.4 million in Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board’s annual Land Ambulance Service Grant (LASG). This announcement is part of Ontario’s $764 million total investment in annual LASG to help municipalities facing increased cost pressures connected to the emergency health system.

“As a government, we recognize the unique challenges that Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board faces while providing emergency health services across the Northwest,” said Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora – Rainy River. “Today’s announcement is another example of the targeted investments we are making to relieve pressure on the local health care system.”

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.

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.
  • Funding provided through the Land Ambulance Service Grant (LASG) is dedicated for hiring of additional paramedics, wage and cost of living adjustments and general ambulance operations.
  • LASG funding is provided on a 50-50 cost share basis with upper-tier municipalities and is based on the previous year’s council-approved operating budgets. Municipalities 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