SASKATOON - The Saskatchewan Health Authority has taken further action to terminate its contract with WPD Ambulance in the Lloydminster area.
At an online special meeting of the board held on Wednesday morning, the SHA board voted to terminate based on a couple of factors. One was the expiry of an agreement between WPD Ambulance owner Dutchak Holdings, Ltd., and Alberta Health Services. The other was to refuse to renew the contract, based on what was described as reasonable reasons.
The SHA’s Executive Director of Provincial Services and Community Care Rod MacKenzie explained to reporters there are provisions in the contract that allow the SHA to “exercise some options” if WPD Ambulance’s contract on the Alberta side of the border is not renewed. Dutchak Holdings, Ltd. previously had the agreement with Alberta Health Services on the Alberta side, while they had the agreement with SHA on the Saskatchewan side.
These are the latest measures taken by the SHA board, which has been trying to get out of its contract with WPD Ambulance in Lloydminster for some time. The board voted in October 2021 to terminate its contract with WPD Ambulance for the reason of “just cause.”
According to reports at the time, that decision was prompted by concerns about WPD’s ability to provide consistency in service coverage, particularly in numbers of ambulances available.
But the actual contract termination has been held up while the owner of WPD Ambulance has taken the decision to an arbitration process, which is still underway.
Now the board has voted on additional measures to end the contract, but these could also end in arbitration.
MacKenzie noted that anytime there is a board decision to terminate or not renew the contract, there is a dispute resolution process in place including mediation and arbitration. SHA and WPD Ambulance are currently in arbitration on the October 2021 decision and anticipate this will be included in further arbitration.
WPD Ambulance also operates in the Battlefords and Rosthern areas.
