Calgary buckling under EMS crisis, Alberta NDP says
New data, acquired by the Alberta NDP, suggests the province's EMS crisis is getting worse under the current government, with a lack of ambulances putting Calgarians at severe risk.
The documents, which were obtained through a Freedom of Information request initiated by the Opposition, detail the number of "red alerts" in Calgary.
Red alerts are when there are no ambulances available to attend a new emergency.
The NDP says in April 2019, Calgary was averaging 40 red alerts each month. By October 2022, the city was seeing more than 400 each month.
Alberta's NDP leader places the blame for the sharp increase on the UCP government.
"We need real action. There are specific steps that paramedics themselves have been calling for and the UCP have ignored for years," Rachel Notley said in a statement.
She says her party "is committed" to addressing the real issues that face EMS coverage in Alberta by attending to the needs of paramedics and their families and ensuring they are offered fair employment contracts.
She also promised the NDP would launch "the largest health-care recruitment campaign Alberta has ever seen."
"The work of a paramedic is both highly skilled and incredibly difficult. Paramedics attend traumatic events several times a day," said Notley.
"The Alberta NDP will bring real resources to the frontline and we will work respectfully with healthcare professionals."
CTV News has reached out to the Alberta government and Alberta Health Services for a response to the new information.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.