NORTHERNSUNRISE Bag130[] Peace River,AB T8S1Y9 Office:700-024-0013 www.n0rthernsunrise.net Fax:780-624-0023

May 9, 2017 *****URGENT*****

Honourable Premier Office of the Premier 307 Legislature Building

10800 - 97 Avenue , T5K 2B6 Government of Alberta

RE: Peace River Regional Airport Services

At the regular meeting of Council today, Council was distressed to learn from the Town of Peace River that the Air Ambulance contract was being awarded to a proponent that does not have the basic requirement of having hangar space at the Peace River Regional airport.

As a major funder of the Peace River Regional airport, Northern Sunrise County fully supports the Town of Peace River's position on the air ambulance contract, and is very concerned that this decision will result in loss of passenger service at the airport, resulting in a crippling effect on the economy of the region.

Alberta Health Services has advised that they sent the Request For Proposals (RFP) for the Air Ambulance contract to ”community leaders”. Please advise us where this was sent, as neither the Airport Committee nor Northern Sunrise County received such notice.

In a meeting we had with the Honorable Minister Hoffman on April 18, we were advised that the contract could not be awarded unless all the requirements of the RFP were met, including having available hangar space. Again, we are greatly concerned with the disregard for the requirement in the Government of Alberta Request for Proposal process where the proponent is REQUIREDto have Air Hangar space at the airport in order to fulfill the contract.

Find attached our initial letter sent to Honourable Sarah Hoffman dated April 25, 2017.

Understand that Council is not advocating for any one carrier over another. We are concerned about all other impacts this decision will spin off to the region.

.4 \’ll)I‘[(}1I(7lW7CII11l(’Caunry, reflecting strong values rmdprogrcssive a1‘filudc’s.while l>al(mc'ingnature and ez'0/tonzic growth in u global e/ivirazznze/1! Sincerely,

Carolyn Kolebaba Deputy Reeve, Northern Sunrise County Chair, Peace River Regional Airport Board c. Dr. Verna Yui, President, Honourable Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Health Honourable Margaret McCuaig»Boyd, Minister of Energy, MLAfor Dunvegan—Central Peace—Not|ey Debbie Jabbour, MLAfor Peace River Honourable , Minister of Children's Services, MLAfor Lesser Slave Lake Town of Peace River County of Northern Lights Municipal District of Peace #135 Town of Grimshaw Village of Berwyn Lac Cardinal Country

K:\Con'espondence\20l7\05 — Ma)/\Albe11aHealth Sewices PR Aiipon May l7.doc NORTHERNSUNRISE Bag1300 Peace River,AB TBS1Y9 Office:780-624-0013 www.n0rthernsunrise.net Fax:780624-0023

April 25, 2017

Honourable Sarah Hoffman Minister of Health Room 404 Legislature Building

10800 — 97 Avenue Edmonton, ABTSK 2B6

Honourable Minister Sarah Hoffman:

RE: Peace River Regional Airport Services

Thank you for agreeing to meet on April 18, 2017 to discuss the concerns shared by our neighbouring municipalities regarding the future of the Peace River Regional Airport, regularly scheduled flight service from the Peace River Regional Airport, and the level of air ambulance service from Peace River.

The RFP process and potential change of air ambulance operator by Alberta Health Services (AHS)in Peace River has many possible negative impacts on the region. The current provider has provided superb air ambulance service to the Peace region for the past several years. Patients and families have expressed their sincere appreciation over the level of care and the sincere compassion they have received to date.

Long synergies have since existed between scheduled public flights and air ambulance in Peace River. This may be in jeopardy as a result of this RFP process. The loss of regularly scheduled flights from Peace River would cause the Town of Peace River, who operates the airport on behalf of municipality partners in the Peace, to lose its eligibility to claim Federal capital funding known as ACAP, which is essential for airport operations. The loss of this funding would likely lead to the closure ofthe airport as the Town of Peace River and the municipal partners would not be able to make up the funding requirements.

Should the above unfortunate loss of regularly scheduled flights and the potential closure of the Peace River Regional Airport occur, the economic affects will be felt in our region which has still not recovered from the oil slump that began in 2014.

A vibmnt and cl nmnic Count , re ectin stron values and roaressive5 attitudes, while lmlancin nature and economic growth in a global environment. Minister Sarah Hoffman April 25, 2017 Page 2

Although the County understands the importance of the open bid process for the air ambulance contract, we urge you to consider the other factors that must be considered in relation to this given the rural nature of our airport base. Please understand that Council is not advocating for any one carrier over another. We are strictly concerned about all other impacts this decision will spin off to the region.

Sincerely,

GarretTomlinson Reeve Northern Sunrise County c. Premier Rachel Notley Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, Minister of Energy, MLAfor Dunvegan-Central Peace—Notley Debbie Jabbour, MLAfor Peace River Danielle Larivee, Minister of Children's Services, MLAfor Lesser Slave Lake County of Northern Lights Lac Cardinal Country Municipal District of Peace #135 Town of Grimshaw Town of Peace River Village of Berwyn