International Association of Fire Fighters Alberta
IAFF Alberta
Provincial EMS Steering Committee
The Alberta EMS Provincial Advisory Committee was established to address rising 911 call volumes and systemic strain across ground ambulance, air ambulance, and dispatch operations. IAFF Alberta contributed to the committee's work alongside health authority representatives, paramedic leaders, fire service officials, union representatives, Indigenous community leaders, municipal officials, educators, and patient advocates from across urban, rural, and remote Alberta.
About the Committee
What It Does
The committee reviewed EMS procedures and policies, identified emerging issues, and developed recommendations to address service gaps, staffing shortages, and work hour concerns across the province.
Why It Exists
Calls to 911 had increased 30% since the spring of 2021, straining the province's EMS system. The committee's findings were submitted in two stages — an initial report in May 2022, followed by a comprehensive final report that September — and the government accepted all recommendations from both that report and the independent Dispatch Review. Implementation continues through the province's Healthcare Action Plan.