F’.O.Box 34 BERWYN,AB MUNICIPALDISTRICT T0” 050 _ of _ Phone: (7ao) 333-3845 M06 No. 135 F3” (730) 3359222 Email: [email protected] _ May 9, 2017 Premier Rachel Notley Office of the Premier 307 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta TSK 2B6 RE: Provincial Air Ambulance Service We have just recently been informed of the impending awarding of the Provincial Air Ambulance Contract to a single proponent and are in complete shock with regard to the entire process. Our municipality was neither informed nor considered while this decision has been progressing. Multiple municipalities from Nonhern Alberta met with Minister Hoffman (Apri|18) to voice our concerns and were assured that we would be advised/consulted/informedbefore any decision was made. It was very disheartening to hear from Gordon Bates (Executive Director — Air Ambulance Services) at AHS, that a decision to award the contract to a single proponent was imminent. This bad decision will be very devastating for the residents of Northern Alberta for the following reasons: - Key components of the RFP process have been completely ignored. For example, one of the criteria identified within the RFP was the condition that hangar space he provided at the air base. The successful proponent does not have hangar space as there is no available space to be had. This calls the entire RFP process into question. Ifthere is no hangar space available, response time will increase as the service will have to come from some other community. Since Peace River had the most Air Ambulance flights last year (1400+), it seems counter-intuitive to bring the planes from outside the community. 0 The loss of the existing AirAmbulance Service and the associated scheduled air service will result in the approximate loss of 55 fulltime positions in the Peace River region. a Ifthe Peace River Regional Airport loses its’ scheduled service, we will lose Federal ACAPfunding that has provided approximately $13 million in funding over the past 5 years. Page 2 Honourable Premier Notley May 9, 2017 It's very obvious that this decision is based solely on monetary concerns forA|berta Health Services only and not on what is best for the residents of Alberta. As you are aware, there are many inter—cDnnected issues that must be considered when making a decision of this magnitude. Although cost is very important, we know that the health and welfare of Alberta residents is paramount. It does not appear as though any criteria was used with exception of cost savings. We urge you to reconsider this devastating decision and consider what is best for our Residents. Yourstr ly, V Robert Willing, Reeve M.D. of Peace No.13S cc: Honourable Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Health Honourable Shaye Anderson, Minister of Municipal Affairs Honourable Brian Mason, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Honourable Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks Honourable Deron Bilous, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Marg McCuaig~Boyd, MLADunvegan-Central Peace-Notley Debbie Jabbour, MLA Peace River Drew Barnes, MLACypress — Medicine Hat Dr. Richard Starke, MLAVermilion — Lloydminster Gordon Bates, Executive Director, Alberta AirAmbu|ance Dr. Verna Yui, President, Alberta Health Services Darren Sandbeck, Chief Paramedic Municipal District of Peace No.135 Council Town of Peace River County of Northern Lights Northern Sunrise County Town of Grimshaw village of Berwyn.