LFK MPP John Jordan speaks at Queen's Park.
Lanark County’s paramedic service is getting a five-per-cent funding increase from the Ontario government as demand for emergency medical care continues to grow.
The province is providing $7,327,283 in land ambulance funding to Lanark County this year, helping cover rising costs while supporting paramedics, ambulances, equipment and emergency response.
Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP John Jordan said the increase is part of a wider effort to strengthen different parts of the emergency health-care system.
Jordan said the latest money is aimed directly at maintaining day-to-day ambulance operations in Lanark County.
The five-per-cent increase is below the provincial average of nine per cent this year. Frontenac County is receiving a 14-per-cent increase, but Jordan said the needs and funding levels vary between regions.
He also credited Lanark County for its partnership with the province in delivering local ambulance services.
Jordan said improving emergency response involves more than adding money to traditional ambulance services.
Community paramedicine can help some patients receive care without being transported to hospital, freeing ambulances for higher-priority calls. Paramedics in those programs can assess and help patients in their homes, potentially preventing unnecessary trips to an emergency department.
Changes to ambulance dispatching are also playing a role.
Jordan said feedback from counties suggests the newer dispatch system is helping crews respond more efficiently.
Ontario says ambulance offload times across the province have fallen by about 68 per cent since their peak in October 2022.
The province says this year’s Lanark County increase is intended to help municipalities deal with higher operating costs while continuing to provide emergency care as communities grow and demand increases.
Jordan said maintaining staffing levels, training and modern equipment will remain important as the health-care system continues facing pressure.
