Reimbursing Local Governments for Medical Services Provided by Local Government Fire and Rescue Service

Whereas communities across British Columbia are facing a significant increase in calls to respond to emergency medical incidents; And whereas local governments provide for their fire departments to support prehospital patient care in their community by providing emergency medical services that assist the Provincial Governments BC Ambulance Service; And whereas the costs associated with supporting prehospital care by local government fire departments has increased significantly in relation to response hours and increased use of first aid and other medical supplies and that such costs are funded solely through local government property taxation: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to develop a funding model to compensate local governments who provide emergency medical services through their fire and rescue services fulfilling the responsibility of the provincial government with consideration given to community population and the fire departments authorized level of emergency medical response.