The Ontario government is investing $13.5 million in Parry Sound-Muskoka to increase the availability of paramedics and ambulances and connect people to care faster.
“For too long, northern and rural communities were left behind. We are fixing that and delivering the support our ambulance teams need to respond to calls across our large region,” said Graydon Smith, MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka.
In Muskoka, the government is increasing land ambulance funding by 9 per cent, bringing its total investment in the region to $7.2 million this year.
In Parry Sound, land ambulance funding is increasing 4 per cent to $6.3 million. This increase in base funding helps ensure municipalities address increased costs so they can continue to deliver high-quality emergency care.
Provincial officials say the funding is part of nearly $1 billion in land ambulance funding being provided to municipalities across Ontario, representing an average increase of 8.7 per cent from 2024.
Additionally, Ontario is investing $109,200 in the District of Muskoka through the dedicated offload nurses program to hire more nurses and other eligible healthcare professionals. This program allows paramedics to get back out into the community faster and respond to their next 9-1-1 call sooner.
Officials said, since Oct. 2022, it has reduced ambulance offload times by 65 per cent and increased the availability of paramedics and ambulances for 9-1-1 calls throughout the province.
“Our government is making record investments to protect Ontario’s health-care system and connect people to the care they need, when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Through these additional investments, we are providing paramedics and emergency departments with the tools they need to connect more people across the province to high-quality emergency care, faster and closer to home.”
