Half of Quebecers don’t have first responder services in their communities: report

A new auditor general report has found that half of Quebec’s population lives in communities with no first responder service.

First responders can include firefighters, police officers and other people with first aid training.

They are usually first on the scene and can provide basic care until paramedics and ambulances arrive.

The report published today says 45 per cent of very urgent calls in municipalities without first responders have an ambulance response time of more than 10 minutes.

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A government-mandated committee recommended in 2014 that the province take steps to ensure first responders are available across the territory.

The report says that despite that recommendation, 70 per cent of communities had no first responder service as of September 2024.