THUNDER BAY -- Increasing EMS stand-by hours back to 2008 levels at stations across the region could cost taxpayers $56,000 a year.
North of Superior EMS will be presenting a report to city council on Monday to discuss the financial implications of bringing back service levels to north shore communities to 2008 standards. EMS had made a change in deployment and reduced services in communities such as Red Rock, Nipigon, Schreiber and Terrace Bay.
But officials in those communities have asked that services be restored to what they were in 2008.
Restoring the services would add another $56,000 a year to an EMS budget already predicted to feature a $800,000 shortfall.
Chief of EMS Norm Gale said the amount of money isn’t significant enough to seriuosly7 impact the $19.6 million budget.
“The $56,000 is not a big piece of that budget,” Gale said. “It’s a $19.6 million budget but we’re about $800,000 over that we’re predicting by the end of the year.”
Last week council relieved Gale of his obligation to continue discussing the issue of closing 14 other EMS stations in the district.
Gale said if council hadn’t given him the option of dropping that obligation then he would have had to keep consulting with the other stations to find common ground in order to find ways to reduce service.
But in regards to the increase in spending, Gale said it's a separate issue entirely.
“The closing of stations would result in a reduced budget there’s no question about that,” Gale said.
“This proposal brought up by heads of council does involve an increase in budget; however, it’s relatively small.”
Other items expected to be discussed at council include the placement of the Fort William Rotary Club of Thunder Bay’s peace pole, whether there should be additional supervision for outdoor rinks, a report on the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Agreement and a number of topics regarding the city’s Transit Master Plan.
Administration has asked council to remove a number of transit related items such as the alternate plans for a temporary south core terminal and the development of a summer U-Pass off the Outstanding List has it’s already incorporated into the Transit Master Plan.
