Peguis First Nation, surrounding Manitoba communities fear lack of funding could shut down ambulance service – CBC

Provincial funding agreement for Fisher Ambulance Service expired in 2019

Peguis First Nation and surrounding communities in Manitoba’s Interlake have declared a state of emergency over lack of funding for their ambulance service, which they say is in danger of shutting down unless the province steps in with support.

The Fisher Ambulance Service covers an area of 14,000 people in the Interlake region, including Peguis, Fisher River and Kinonjeoshtegon First Nations, as well as the rural municipality of Fisher.

Since the last provincial funding agreement expired in 2019, Peguis has funded the service on its own, supplemented partially through billing, but now the First Nation says it can’t keep going.

Without a new agreement to pay for ongoing services, and reimburse Peguis for past costs, the ambulance service could shut down completely by the end of the month, said Dr. John Neufeld, medical director for Fisher Ambulance Service.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/fisher-ambulance-service-emergency-funding-1.6879617