(CHAT News file photo)

By Brendan Miller

Medicine Hat provides HALO funding for the first time

Jul 18, 2023 | 2:23 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Council approved $1 million of funding to support HALO Air Ambulance for two years. The funding will be split $500,000 for the remainder of 2023 and $500,000 for 2024.

Despite the air ambulance operating out of the Regional Airport for over 16 years, the funding approval is the first time Medicine Hat has provided financial support to HALO.

The city now joins Bow Island, Cypress County and the Counties of Newell and Forty Mile as well as several other municipalities who financially support helicopter operations.

Council heard HALO currently receives only 29 per cent of its operating budget from Alberta Health Services.

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Council also approved to provide more advocacy on behalf of HALO to the Minister of Health. In March council sent a letter asking the province to provide consistent and adequate funding.

HALO CEO Paul Carolan says the city has a loud voice when it comes to accessing provincial funding.

“It’s about having the city of Medicine Hat with a seat at our table making sure that we are making the right decisions and making great decisions moving forward and then having them in a position where they can share that with their counterparts in the provincial government,” says Carolan.

Councillor Hider says it’s important for the city to become HALO’s strategic partner.

“There’s lots of residents within Medicine Hat that might have cottages or cabins down at Elkwater. Lots of kids and families ski at Hidden Valley. Up and down north on the 41 there’s people that work all around the area so it’s crucial that we are part of supporting HALO and its services,” says Hider.

The funding approval comes as HALO sees its annual operating budget grow by over half a million dollars to 3.5 million.

This year HALO expects to fly around 200 life-saving missions.