City protests paramedic costs

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City taxpayers are paying for paramedics, despite that being a provincial jurisdiction.

Over the past 20 years, the use of municipal firefighters responding to ambulance calls has increased by more than 300% from 456 first responder calls in 2005 to 1912 last year, largely due to the toxic drug crisis.

Mayor Sharie Minions said the city is highlighting it as an issue that needs to be addressed as the city heads into budget deliberations.

“We’ve been seeing that number increase over time and it’s gotten to a point where we’re really feeling that the province needs to step in and support the work that we are doing which really is supporting work that is their responsibility,” she said. “Making sure it’s properly supported by the level of government that supposed to be paying for it.”

Minions said they’ve raised the issue with the local MLA and the province has been understanding but hasn’t brought forward any solutions.

She said Port Alberni will be bringing the issue to the next Union of BC Municipalities convention since it’s affecting all communities today.