Mayor Scott Gillingham issued the following statement today regarding emergency medical services staffing and targeted provincial funding for ambulance overtime hours in downtown Winnipeg:
“I have been consistent in my advocacy that Winnipeg urgently needs a permanent increase to our baseline complement of ambulances and full-time paramedic positions.
The City will work with the Province on providing additional ambulance coverage near homeless shelters and high-need areas. We support the goal of getting emergency medical care to vulnerable people faster and reducing pressure on shelter staff, firefighters, and paramedics.
However, this initiative must protect emergency coverage across the whole city. Any dedicated service unit can and will only be staffed after regular city-wide ambulance shifts are fully covered.
The reality of our staffing shortage is acute. In the past week alone, several ambulances were out of service on multiple days because we lacked the staff to operate them. At the same time, the toxic drug crisis is placing extraordinary pressure on frontline responders, with rising overdose calls, more frequent use of naloxone, and complex situations where some individuals require medical support multiple times in a single day.
Our paramedics are doing exceptional work under difficult conditions, but many face severe burnout and many are currently off on medical leave. When ambulance units are unavailable, that pressure falls on firefighters, who are called to more medical incidents, potentially delaying their availability for other emergencies like structure fires.
Winnipeg needs both a strong response to the overdose crisis and reliable ambulance coverage in every neighbourhood. The City will do its part, but temporary funding for overtime hours cannot replace the permanent paramedics and ambulances our emergency response system needs.”