(CHAT News file photo)

By Brendan Miller

HALO requests operational funding from City of Medicine Hat

Jun 20, 2023 | 12:42 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The HALO Air Ambulance program is asking the city for stable funding to help continue its life-saving service to southern Alberta.

The air ambulance asked the city to become its funding partner during a presentation to council after operating out of Medicine Hat Regional Airport for over 16 years.

Halo is asking Medicine Hat to provide $2.5 million over the next five years. That would work out to $500,000 annually.

Council heard a total of 19 per cent of all calls for service came from Medicine Hat in 2022.

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The air ambulance is looking to diversify its funding model that includes support for local municipalities, donations and philanthropists.

CEO Paul Carolan says they have secured funding from all neighbouring communities to Medicine Hat.

“So this is our chance today to ask the city to come to the table as well.”

Currently provincial support accounts for 43 per cent of their annual operating budget at $1.3 million. In 2023 HALO’s operating budget grew by half a million dollars to a total of $3.5 million.

“Significant increases across the board. As you mentioned fuel, we budget six figures a year just for fuel alone. So it adds up very quickly but we are in the business of saving lives and so we have to make sure that we have the helicopter there and ready to go and we are committed to making sure that it is,” says Carolan.

“It shouldn’t matter what your postal code is, you should be able to get the care you need,” adds Carolan.

Halo says it’s contributed over $21 million to the local economy and supported hundreds of local businesses.

City staff have accepted the information provided by HALO and a decision to approve funding will go before council at a later date.