Thread by @meksmith

Now for something completely different! The mayors of Red Deer, Calgary, Wood Buffalo and Lethbridge are holding a joint news conference to voice opposition to the province's final decision to consolidate their EMS dispatch services. calgaryherald.com/news/politics/… #yyccc #ableg

Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer says Minister of Health Tyler Shandro "cannot in good faith claim improved patient outcomes" by consolidating formerly municipally run ambulance dispatch in provincial centres.

The biggest issue for the Alberta municipalities being added to the consolidation (which took the rest of the province under this system in 2009) is connection between fire and EMS response. Firefighters are often at the scene first and give emergency medical aid first.

Veer is laying into Shandro. She says this decision was based on an "outdated, antiquated" report and he didn't take facts that the municipalities presented into account. She calls it "egregious."

Veer says this decision is the death of local, integrated emergency response in Alberta.

Veer: "Albertans should be on very acute notice that AHS has taken steps toward ... a siloed life support model."

Mayor Naheed Nenshi is speaking now. He says despite Shandro's "surprise" Friday letter, this issue isn't done and the mayors plan to keep talking about it. He says they were surprised by the letter because "we thought we were still in the middle of a conversation."

Nenshi says Calgary has asked for EMS dispatch time data and they didn't receive it until Monday, but apparently they're not allowed to share it with the public? That's very odd. Nenshi literally suggests FOIPing this info.

Nenshi says the province is relying on "very poor evidence" in making this decision and he hasn't seen evidence that patient outcomes will improve.

Nenshi: "We're appealing to the premier now because it's clear Minister Shandro isn't interested in working with us."

Wood Buffalo Mayor Don Scott is speaking now. He says
Shandro has made a decision based on "ideology, not intellect."

Scott says he's heard "loud and clear" from neighbouring First Nations and Metis communities that they don't support EMS dispatch consolidation either.

Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman is last to speak. He says their 911 dispatch systems work well, and "after just 16 months in office, Minister Shandro has decided to throw all of that away without any consultation with municipalities."

Spearman says before any additional municipalities are "drawn into" consolidation, concerns raised by rural municipalities in southern Alberta need to be addressed. Foothills MD has been expressing concerns for years after their 2009 consolidation.

Spearman calls for a third-party review to evaluate the impact of consolidation on emergency response times.