The provincial government is looking to consolidate about 60 road ambulance services into one publicly-run system.

$9-million has been set aside in the 2023 budget for the process.

Health Minister Tom Osborne notes that the current system is very complex with numerous types of operators, such as community and private.

He believes the integration will be beneficial by resulting in a more seamless system, rather than a fragmented one.

He says government will be hiring a consultant to help guide them through the process.

Osborne notes that not all ambulance services will be included in the transition.

He says some community operators and some of the more remote operations may not be integrated, but that is something the consultant will help them figure out.

Questions remain about how it will all work, but the president of the province’s largest public sector union is applauding plans to consolidate 60 separate road ambulance services into one.

Jerry Earle, a former paramedic, says it’s something the union has been asking for for some time.

He says the union has already had a look at similar models in British Columbia, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. All they want is a system that will provide the same level of service no matter where you are in the province.