Hastings County Council has approved a special resolution calling on the provincial government to restore land ambulance funding to its previous level for the 2025 fiscal year.
This comes after an unexpected withdrawal of funding from the province for the service.
“So the Land Ambulance Service Grant is approximately $150,000 short of our estimate, as nearly $300,000 in base funding was removed from the Land Ambulance Service Grant based on operations on behalf of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte,” Chief of Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services Carl Bowker told council on Thursday.
“So while we’re certainly appreciative of the additional investments by the province as it relates to our Indigenous partners, we feel this wasn’t clearly communicated.”
A report to council states that Paramedics Services spoke with representatives of the Ministry of Health’s financial team for further clarification and learned that 100% base funding is calculated on population census data for the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.
This would equate to approximately $300,000 in funds on an annual basis.
However, when Paramedic Services began operating land ambulance services on behalf of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, it’s stated that it was not communicated by the province that the 100% base funding within the Land Ambulances Services Grant would be negatively affected by these operations.
“We’ve been working with the province or their financial team as much as possible on a resolution, but I don’t have any updates to bring to you at this time,” Bowker said.
“Therefore, there’s a motion before you asking the province to reconsider this decision.”
It was not the only section that saw a shortfall in funding from the province.
Bowker says that funding for offloading patients at hospitals was also short by $50,000.
“Quinte Health has made up the deficit to avoid a reduction in services, but this won’t be sustainable on a long-term basis,” Bowker told council.
“So while this funding is never guaranteed, we hope that next year’s application restores funding to its previous levels to avoid service.”
The special resolution was passed by council.
