Photo Courtesy HALO

By CHAT News Today

Lack of respect

Cypress County ‘appalled’ by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Report

Jul 8, 2021 | 5:02 PM

DUNMORE, AB – Cypress County officials are strongly voicing their displeasure with the results of the province’s Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Report.

In a statement, the county says it is “appalled and dismayed” by the lack of respect for rural Albertans.

“They need to sit down with HALO and HERO and hear their side of the story, not just STARS’ side of the story,” said Reeve Dan Hamilton. “And, put a program together so that everyone is treated equally.”

The report only recommends funding for STARS, not the local HALO or HERO (based in Fort McMurray), emergency air services. This despite saying that helicopter emergency medical services are particularly vital in rural Alberta.

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“We’re not big numbers here, but we’re still numbers,” said Hamilton. “We all need to be treated equal and I don’t believe our government is looking at it that way. They need to open up their eyes and pay attention. These are all rate-paying citizens here and all voting citizens, we should all be treated equal.”

Cypress County points out that STARS can’t unable to provide emergency response past the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital without refuelling, meaning emergency response to any other areas in the southeast, including Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, would be significantly delayed.

According to the county, Elkwater often sees more visitors than the population of Cypress County combined with many participating in sometimes dangerous events like mountain biking and kayaking.

HALO met with Health Minister Tyler Shandro over the last few days, however Hamilton said Cypress County has had little communication with the department and isn’t overly optimistic that will change.

“At this point I don’t,” said Reeve Dan Hamilton. “I’ve had a phone call in with Mr. Shandro for 14 months and he still hasn’t gotten back to me. He was in town two days ago and I asked for 15 minutes of his time, and he pushed me off. If I can’t as the reeve of Cypress County even get a meeting with the minister, I don’t know where we’re going to go from there.”