Albertan communities can have a hard time with the current ambulance delivery system.

Wildrose Livingstone-Macleod MLA Pat Stier says communities are often left without ambulances because of basic issues with the Alberta Health Services' ambulance scheme.

"Now, a lot of times, ambulances are being taken out of their areas and sent needlessly to Calgary on non-emergency trips, or to Lethbridge in our case." He continues, "leaving areas where there are a lot of communities uncovered for several hours, because these units have been misdirected."

Stier says the Municipal District of Willow Creek made a wonderful endeavor to remedy these issues.

"They went ahead in frustration, and purchased extra units.  The extra units they have provided have made a huge difference in the area, but unfortunately AHS in their wisdom has come along and caused them to be decommissioned, they won't allow Willow Creek to use them now which is a terrible thing."

He notes that the real problems are with the dispatch system and delays at hospitals.

"If they're not going to be putting in changes to the system that would make better use of ambulances, then the only other recourse is to do what Willow Creek did and they're not even allowing that.  So extra ambulances would be something that could be done, but they have to be managed properly.

Stier says the Wildrose Party will continue to advocate for the necessary changes and remind the Minister that these problems still exist.