The Gander and Area Chamber of Commerce is calling on the province to reconsider its plans for air ambulance services.

Government recently announced the details of its plan to privatize air ambulance, a move which will include the service being based in St. John’s, and not Gander.

That decision has drawn the ire of the town, and now the Chamber of Commerce is weighing in.

They say they are “very concerned” with the RFP, noting that dedicated air ambulance planes have been based out of the community for several years.

They say the RFP as written seems to exclude Gander from the conversation. They believe a “fair process” would allow companies from across the province to bid.

The Chamber says air ambulance is a service that should be based close to those who need it, and ultimately no one in the metro area will need to avail of it to get to a larger medical centre.

They say it makes “far more sense” for the service to be centralized.

They are also concerned with the potential loss of jobs and economic impacts for the region.