AIR AMBULANCE
CanWest confirms ongoing talks with city
New air ambulance contract provider CanWest Air is in the process of securing the necessary hangar space in Medicine Hat to begin operations April 1.
CanWest met with city officials and the airport manager at the Medicine Hat Airport on Nov. 9 regarding a lease and development permits, CEO Jake Fehr says.
“We are working co-operatively with the city on the final stages of the lease of the airport lot, and the development permits required for the construction on the new hangar,” said Fehr. “It is the intent of CanWest to ensure there will be no disruption of Medivac services to the city.”
CanWest’s general contractor for the building project is working with local engineers and sub-contractors as well as city staff to ensure no delays ahead of the April 1 start date, says Fehr.
“I must also mention we have Option B on the table as well, and that is an agreement with a local business that has an existing hangar at the Medicine Hat Airport, and we are negotiating terms with the present lessee on using that facility should the need arise,” he said.
CanWest has already taken delivery of four of the nine new aircraft to operate numerous air ambulance bases across the province.
“They are being retrofitted for the medivac configuration,” he said. “Two more aircraft will arrive in Edmonton in December with the remainder to come in early 2018.”
One city councillor says while it is disappointing that Medicine Hat’s longtime air ambulance provider Integra Air will change to CanWest, it is important to show support for the new company.
Coun. Julie Friesen said Monday she was disappointed to learn Integra had lost the contract but the contract is awarded and it is time to work with the new provider.
“We asked some very hard questions (during the RFP process) and fought the good fight to make sure our people (in Medicine Hat) will be safe,” said Friesen.
A letter from AHS announcing the new air ambulance contract provider will switch April 1 was acknowledged Monday by city council.
“It’s sad to see a long-serving supporter of local health services lose that contract,” said Coun. Robert Dumanowski. “We have to look now at building our partnership with CanWest to ensure the safety of our citizens. Anything we can do will be in the best stead of our community.”
Mayor Ted Clugston acknowledged the need to work with CanWest but expressed some concerns about having hangar space ready by the deadline.
“They have a right to be here because they were awarded the contract, but I’m still going to be really interested to see how they’ll have a hanger by April 1,” said Clugston. “They have approached our planning department for land to build one but they would have to get it built in five months.”
The RFP for air ambulance services was issued Aug. 9, 2016 with an addendum on Sept. 2, 2016.
“Recognizing there are limitations in existing infrastructure at some Base Locations, AHS will consider temporary solutions such as temporary portable hangars or other operational adjustments,” the addendum reads in part.
The contract with CanWest was signed this past September.