Ambulance shortage gets the blame.
Frontenac Paramedics are dealing with a serious shortage of spare ambulances.
That is forcing some crews to delay shift starts and train new recruits in rented moving trucks, according to a CBC report.
A report from Chief Mark Goudie says new ambulances now cost about $260,000 and take up to two years to arrive. With vehicles out for regular maintenance, there are often no spares left.
To help address the problem, Frontenac County councillors voted to keep two aging ambulances past their normal lifespan, raising the reserve fleet from four to six vehicles.
The older ambulances will cost around $5,000 each for insurance and licensing, and about $6,000 per year in maintenance.
Union officials say the moving truck training is concerning, as ambulances handle very differently.
The current plan offers only a short-term fix, with rising demand and aging vehicles putting more pressure on the system.
Council support is growing, but more investment is needed to fully meet standards.
Story by Bob Perrault
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