Chatham-Kent Council is being asked to renew the municipality’s contract with its land ambulance service provider for the next five years.
During a meeting on Monday, CK administration will recommend that council award a $82,857,813 contract to Medavie to provide EMS Services for a five-year period from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2029. Half of the cost of the contract would be funded by the Ministry of Health.
The current contract between the municipality and Medavie EMS will end on December 31, 2024.
In the new five-year contract, Medavie has provided fixed pricing with cost increases of 7.3 per cent and 4.3 percent for the first two years, and an increase of 3.9 per cent per year for the remaining three.
The new contract includes new terms for Medavie, including attending council meetings to present its annual report and answer any questions council may have; providing a minimum of 100 hours in support of those experiencing homelessness and addiction; and providing a comprehensive Paramedic Master Plan by November 1, 2028.
In a report to council, Fire Chief Chris Case said by contracting out EMS services, Chatham-Kent has the benefit of avoiding HR costs, such as WSIB and negotiations, by not directly employing paramedics. However, he does note that employing paramedics within the municipal structure would provide opportunities for closer partnerships, deployments, and innovation.
In Chatham-Kent, Medavie currently employs one full-time general manager, four full-time managers, four full-time supervisors, five part-time supervisors and one administrative staff member out of the Chatham Headquarters, along with 123 unionized paramedics.
All ambulances, equipment and EMS stations used by Medavie are owned by the municipality. There are six EMS stations in Chatham-Kent located in Chatham, Wallaceburg, Tilbury, Thamesville, Ridgetown and Blenheim.
Chatham-Kent is one of only two Ontario municipalities that continue to contract out its EMS service. All others have moved to a direct delivery model.
