in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
September 26, 2022
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, Bruce County will receive $6,355,411 and Grey County will receive $8,413,493 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.
“This funding will help better our ambulance services in the region and improve the quality of care residents of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound receive. I am proud that our government continues to invest in accessible and reliable healthcare especially in Ontario’s more rural communities” said MPP Rick Byers.
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.
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.
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