Councillors here share concerns of other municipalities on the cost of medical assist calls on local fire departments.
The topic came up on July 20 following similar resolutions from the townships of Addington Highlands and North Frontenac.
According to Addington Highlands Reeve Henry Hogg, medical calls represented 41.6% of the calls in 2015 and 37.5 in 2014.
He explained that the township operates two fire departments and part of the core services by necessity include emergency pre-hospital care in addition to defibrillation, standard first aid and CPR.
This, Hogg said, “has had and will continue to have an impact on the operation costs of the fire departments.”
As a result, that township is asking the province to consider providing financial support to assist with the additional costs.
Puslinch Mayor Dennis Lever said that locally, medical calls represent 16% of the fire department responses.
Puslinch councillor Ken Roth agreed “this is a real concern, and that (medical assist calls) should not be paid for through property taxes.
“I think we should support these municipalities … if we don’t ask the answer will be – no.”
“Every nickel counts,” added councillor Matthew Bulmer.
Puslinch councillors quickly passed a resolution in support.
