Provincial dollars have vanished from Simcoe County paramedic funding just as significant gains were being made in emergency response times, leaving officials and communities staring down the risk of longer waits and fewer resources.
A program that once drew praise for its ability to cut paramedic off-load times at Simcoe hospitals now faces a $400,000 shortfall after the province reduced annual support from $1.2 million to $800,000. This comes despite a reported 73.8 percent improvement in off-load efficiency, a change that allowed paramedics to return to the field more quickly and hospitals to move patients faster. As Jane Sinclair, general manager of health and emergency services, outlined to county officials, funding stability had enabled the hiring of dedicated nursing staff across all five partner hospitals, boosting emergency care for residents.
The abrupt reduction threatens to reverse these advances. Staff reports warn of hospital layoffs, budget deficits, and ultimately, increased off-load delays. In turn, communities could see paramedics tied up in emergency rooms, unable to respond to calls elsewhere—a critical problem as Simcoe’s aging and growing population drives up demand for emergency services. The stakes are sharply defined in towns like Midland, Collingwood, and Alliston, where three hospitals have been directly affected by the cut.
At County Council, the debate has grown pointed. Adjala-Tosorontio mayor Scott W. Anderson floated the idea of using local reserves to temporarily plug the gap, describing the program’s value as direct and measurable. Others, including Severn deputy mayor Judith Cox, warned that stepping in might let the province off the hook for its responsibilities. “It’s their responsibility. It’s been said again and again that health care is in a crisis,” she said, urging caution against setting a precedent.
With no response yet from provincial authorities, county staff have recommended escalating the issue to the warden and council for direct advocacy. The future of the program—and the county’s emergency care capacity—now hinges on those negotiations. For Simcoe County, the question is clear: who should guarantee prompt, effective emergency response when the stakes are life and death?
References:
Provincial funding cut by $400K despite lower paramedic off-load times
Provincial funding cut by $400K despite lower paramedic off-load times
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