![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976944.1721898750!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Lack of ambulances forces Calgary police to transport stabbing victim to hospital
Calgary police officers transported a man who was the victim of a stabbing and suffering critical injuries to hospital Sunday evening due to a shortage of ambulances in the area.
Officers were called to the scene of a serious assault near Eighth Avenue and First Street S.W. around 5:30 p.m.
“He was deemed to be in critical condition at the time of arrival at hospital but was eventually upgraded to stable condition,” read a statement from police.
CPS says the incident does not appear to be random and no suspects are in custody.
But the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) — the union that represents health-care workers — says these types of incidents will continue to happen until the province can take action.
“Unfortunately these types of situations stopped being unusual a long time ago,” reads a statement from HSAA president Mike Parker.
In November alone, HSAA recorded at least 269 incidents where ambulance response times in Alberta exceeded 30 minutes.
That number is 325 when help was coming from more than 30 minutes away. There were about 506 responses from out of jurisdiction.
“If it was the response time that made the officers feel compelled to transport the patient, these types of long responses are no longer irregular,” said Parker.
CTV News Calgary was contacted by a health-care worker saying EMS crews were more than 28 minutes away after the stabbing. CTV News has yet to independently verify that timeline.
Asked about the issue on Tuesday, Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping said the system is "challenged" right now.
"We understand there is an issue and we are going to fix it," he said.
Dusty Myshrall with the Alberta Paramedics Association said it's time for the province to question EMS leadership.
"The fact that it even happens in Alberta, in Canada, is outrageous," he said.
"People dial 911, the expectation is an ambulance is coming and it will be there."
Police say they are continuing to investigate the stabbing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
DEVELOPING Jasper wildfire burns buildings, while poor air quality forces some fire crews out
A fast-moving wildfire has hit Jasper, Alberta, destroying buildings and chasing some wildland firefighters away with dangerously poor air quality.
Jasper mayor says alert system to be reviewed after message 'glitch'
More than 25,000 people have been displaced from Jasper National Park since wildfires started to threaten the picturesque corner of Alberta Rockies on Monday, but the mayor of its namesake municipality says not everyone received an evacuation alert when it was sent out.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.