Hastings County opposing Ontario's ambulance funding cut

Councillors passed a special resolution asking Ontario restore the county’s base funding for land ambulance service to the previous level set for this fiscal year.

“Nearly $300,000 in base funding was removed from the land ambulance service grant based on operations on behalf of the Mohawks Bay of Quinte,” Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services Chief Carl Bowker told council. The service in September 2024 opened a new base on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, reducing response times to calls on the reserve.

Bowker said the result was a grant falling $150,000 short of what had been expected.

“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, otherwise we would have calculated the land ambulance service grant differently.”

He said his team is working with provincial staff to try to resolve the issue.

Bowker also said funding for offloading patients at hospitals “was also about $50,000 lower than anticipated.

“Quinte Health has made up the deficit to avoid a reduction in services, but this won’t be sustainable on a long-term basis,” said the chief. “So, while this funding is never guaranteed, we hope that next year’s application restores funding to its previous levels to avoid service cuts.”

This story will be updated.