Ambulance Services Act

t AMBULANCE SERVICES ACT PLEASE NOTE This document, prepared by the Legislative Counsel Office, is an office consolidation of this Act, current to May 29, 2026. It is intended for information and reference purposes only. This document is not the official version of the Act. The Act and the amendments as printed under the authority of the King’s Printer for the province should be consulted to determine the authoritative statement of the law. For more information concerning the history of this Act, please see the Table of Public Acts on the Prince Edward Island Government web site (www.princeedwardisland.ca). If you find any errors or omissions in this consolidation, please contact: Legislative Counsel Office Tel: (902) 368-4292 Email: legislation@gov.pe.ca Ambulance Services Act Table of Contents AMBULANCE SERVICES ACT Table of Contents Section Page INTERPRETATION 5 1. Definitions................................................................................................................................................ 5 ADMINISTRATION 6 2. Minister responsible for Act..................................................................................................................... 6 3. Provincial Ambulance Services Director ................................................................................................. 6 AMBULANCE SERVICES 7 4. Minister to ensure ambulance services provided ..................................................................................... 7 5. Unauthorized operation of ambulance operation ..................................................................................... 7 6. Medical advisor ........................................................................................................................................ 8 USE OF AMBULANCES 8 7. Use of ambulance ..................................................................................................................................... 8 INSPECTIONS 9 8. Inspectors ................................................................................................................................................. 9 9. Entry without warrant .............................................................................................................................. 9 10. Warrant .................................................................................................................................................. 10 11. Notification of Board ............................................................................................................................. 10 12. Obstruction of inspector ......................................................................................................................... 10 13. Inspector’s report ................................................................................................................................... 10 PARAMEDICS 11 14. Prohibition, operator employing non-paramedic .................................................................................... 11 PATIENT CALL REPORTS 11 15. Patient call report ................................................................................................................................... 11 SERVICE 12 16. Manner of service................................................................................................................................... 12 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY 13 17. Limitation of liability ............................................................................................................................. 13 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION 13 18. Information not to be disclosed .............................................................................................................. 13 OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 13 19. Offences and penalties ........................................................................................................................... 13 20. Penalties ................................................................................................................................................. 13 21. Prosecution, limitation period ................................................................................................................ 14 INJUNCTION 14 22. Injunction ............................................................................................................................................... 14 c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 3 Table of Contents Ambulance Services Act REGULATIONS 14 23. Regulations ............................................................................................................................................. 14 TRANSITIONAL 15 24. Provincial Emergency Medical Director deemed to be appointed under this Act .................................. 15 CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS 15 25. Sections 25 and 26 .................................................................................................................................. 15 Page 4 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Ambulance Services Act Section 1 AMBULANCE SERVICES ACT CHAPTER A-10.01 Interpretation 1. Definitions (1) In this Act (a) “agreement” means an agreement for the provision of ambulance services entered into, or deemed to be entered into, by the Minister under section 4; (b) “ambulance” means a motor vehicle that is designed, constructed or adapted to be used for the ground transportation of patients; (c) “ambulance operation” means a business or undertaking that provides ambulance services; (d) “ambulance services” includes (i) the dispatching of an ambulance in response to a request for ambulance services, (ii) the assessment, stabilization and treatment of a patient for whom an ambulance is dispatched, and (iii) the transportation of a patient by ambulance to or from a health facility; (e) repealed by 2026,c.1,s.1(1); (f) “Director” means the Provincial Ambulance Services Director appointed under section 3; (g) repealed by 2026,c.1,s.1(1); (h) repealed by 2026,c.1,s.1(1); (i) “guidelines” means the guidelines established or adopted by the Director under clause 3(2)(b), as amended from time to time; (j) “health facility” means a health facility as defined in the Health Services Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. H-1.6; (k) “inspector” means an inspector appointed under section 8; (l) repealed by 2026,c.1,s.1(1); (m) “Minister” means the Minister of Health and Wellness and includes the Minister’s delegate; (n) “operator” means a person who is authorized under an agreement to operate an ambulance operation in all or part of the province; (n.1) “paramedic” means a paramedic as defined in the Regulated Health Professions Act Paramedics Regulations (EC218/24); (n.2) “paramedicine” means paramedicine as defined in the Regulated Health Professions Act Paramedics Regulations; (o) “patient” means a person who c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 5 Section 2 Ambulance Services Act (i) has suffered a trauma or an acute onset of illness that endangers or may endanger the person’s life or ability to function, or (ii) has been judged by a medical practitioner to require, while being transported, the care or supervision of a medical practitioner, registered nurse or paramedic; (p) “patient call report” means a patient call report required to be completed under subsection 15(1); (q) “protocols” means the protocols established or adopted by the Director under clause 3(2)(b), as amended from time to time; (r) “registered nurse” means a person who is authorized by an enactment to practise as a registered nurse; Application of Act (2) This Act does not apply to (a) a person providing assistance in circumstances to which the Volunteers Liability Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. V-5 applies; (b) ambulance and emergency personnel based outside the province providing a service for the interprovincial transportation of patients; (c) police, firefighters, lifeguards and persons similarly prepared for emergency first- response while carrying out procedures in emergency first-response; (d) a person performing an emergency service during a state of emergency declared under the Emergency Measures Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. E-6.1 or a public health emergency declared under the Public Health Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. P-30.1; (e) a person practising or studying a health profession acting under the authority of another Act; or (f) a student enrolled in a paramedic education program at a post-secondary educational institution who is participating in practical training under the direct supervision of a paramedic. 2012,c.2,s.1; 2013,c.26,s.1; 2017,c.13,s.2(2); 2024,c.53,s.17(2); 2026,c.1,s.1. Administration 2. Minister responsible for Act (1) The Minister is responsible for the administration of this Act. Delegation (2) The Minister may, in writing, delegate to any person any of the functions of the Minister under this Act or the regulations. 2012,c.2,s.2. 3. Provincial Ambulance Services Director (1) The Minister may appoint a Provincial Ambulance Services Director, who shall be a medical practitioner. Duties of Director (2) The Director shall (a) act as a medical consultant to the Minister on matters respecting ambulance services in the province; Page 6 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Ambulance Services Act Section 4 (b) establish or adopt, in whole or in part, and amend as required, in accordance with any policies or processes established by the Minister and generally accepted professional standards, written protocols and guidelines to direct appropriate patient care by paramedics in the provision of ambulance services; (c) provide a copy of the current protocols and guidelines to the head of every emergency department located in a health facility in the province; (d) monitor and facilitate compliance, by operators and paramedics employed by an operator, with this Act, the regulations and the protocols and guidelines; and (e) perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Minister. Directives and reporting requirements (3) The Director may, in writing, issue a directive to, or impose a reporting requirement on, an operator in respect of providing ambulance services. Compliance (4) An operator shall comply with any directive issued to, or reporting requirement imposed on, the operator under subsection (3). 2012,c.2,s.3; 2026,c.1,s.2. Ambulance Services 4. Minister to ensure ambulance services provided (1) The Minister shall ensure that (a) ambulance services are provided throughout the province; and (b) every ambulance operation is monitored, inspected and evaluated in respect of the quality of the ambulance services provided, as required by this Act and the regulations. Agreement for provision of ambulance services (2) The Minister may provide for ambulance services directly or enter into an agreement with any person authorizing that person to operate an ambulance operation providing ambulance services in all or part of the province. Transitional- Ground Ambulance Services Agreement (3) The Ground Ambulance Services Agreement executed by the Minister, on behalf of the Government of Prince Edward Island, and Island EMS Inc. on October 3, 2006, is deemed to be an agreement entered into under subsection (2). 2012,c.2,s.4. 5. Unauthorized operation of ambulance operation (1) No person, other than the Minister or an operator, shall (a) operate an ambulance operation; (b) hold himself or herself out as entitled to operate an ambulance operation; or (c) use any title or description that implies that the person is entitled to operate an ambulance operation. Unauthorized transport of a patient (2) No person who operates a vehicle for a business or undertaking, other than an ambulance operation, providing ground transportation services shall provide ground transportation to c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 7 Section 6 Ambulance Services Act another person for gain if the person who operates the vehicle knows or reasonably ought to know that the other person (a) is suffering from a trauma or an acute onset of illness that endangers or may endanger the person’s life or ability to function; or (b) requires or is likely to require, while being transported, the care or supervision of a medical practitioner, registered nurse or paramedic. Idem (3) No person who operates a business or undertaking, other than an ambulance operation, providing ground transportation services shall permit a person who operates a vehicle for that business or undertaking to contravene subsection (2). 2012,c.2,s.5; 2024,c.53,s.17(3); 2026,c.1,s.3. 6. Medical advisor Repealed by 2026,c.1,s.5; 2012,c.2,s.6. Use of Ambulances 7. Use of ambulance (1) No person shall use an ambulance, and no operator shall permit an ambulance under the control of the operator to be used, for a purpose other than (a) the provision of ambulance services; (b) the education or training of paramedics or other emergency service or health care professionals; (c) public education; (d) the transportation of medical equipment or supplies; (e) the transportation of blood, blood products, human tissue or organs; (f) the transportation of human remains, in accordance with the regulations; or (g) a purpose approved in writing by the Director. Standards (2) No person shall use an ambulance, and no operator shall permit an ambulance under the control of the operator to be used, for the purpose of providing ambulance services unless the ambulance meets the requirements or standards set out by the regulations respecting (a) the construction, design, maintenance, and safety of the ambulance; (b) the vehicle equipment carried in the ambulance; and (c) the patient care equipment and supplies carried in the ambulance. Staff complement (3) No operator shall permit an ambulance under the control of the operator to be used for the purpose of providing ambulance services unless the ambulance is operated with the staff complement required by the regulations. Protocols to be carried in ambulance (4) An operator shall ensure that a copy of the current protocols is carried in every ambulance used in the ambulance operation to provide ambulance services. Page 8 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Ambulance Services Act Section 8 Inspection of ambulance (5) Subject to subsection (6), no operator shall permit an ambulance under the control of the operator to be used to provide ambulance services unless an inspector has inspected and approved the ambulance within the immediately preceding six-month period. Exemption (6) An inspector may, in writing, exempt an operator from compliance with subsection (5) for a period not exceeding three days, if the inspector is satisfied that the exemption is in the public interest. 2012,c.2,s.7; 2026,c.1,s.6. Inspections 8. Inspectors The Minister may appoint persons as inspectors for the purposes of this Act. 2012,c.2,s.8. 9. Entry without warrant (1) An inspector may, at any time and on the production of a copy of the inspector’s appointment, enter without warrant and inspect any facilities or premises, other than a dwelling place, used by an operator for the purpose of providing ambulance services. Powers of inspectors (2) An inspector may, in the course of conducting an inspection of facilities or premises used by an operator for the purpose of providing ambulance services, (a) inspect any ambulances that are used or intended to be used by the operator to provide ambulance services; (b) inspect, examine and test any vehicle equipment, and patient care equipment and supplies, that are used or intended to be used by the operator to provide ambulance services; and (c) examine, extract information from and make copies of any records and documents relating to the ambulance services provided by the operator. Patient care equipment (3) An inspector may, for the purpose of testing any patient care equipment under subclause (2)(b)(ii), request a paramedic who is employed by the operator to demonstrate that the patient care equipment is in good working order. Request for information (4) An inspector may request an operator, or any person employed by an operator, to provide to the inspector any record or information relating to the ambulance services provided by the operator that the inspector specifies. Compliance with request (5) Any person who receives a request from an inspector under subsection (3) or (4) shall comply with the request within a reasonable time. 2012,c.2,s.9; 2026,c.1,s.7. c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 9 Section 10 Ambulance Services Act 10. Warrant (1) Where, on application, a judicial justice of the peace is satisfied by information on oath that facilities or premises are used by an operator for the purpose of providing ambulance services, and (a) entry to the facilities or premises by an inspector has been refused or there are reasonable grounds for believing that entry will be refused; or (b) the operator or person in charge of the facilities or premises has failed to cooperate with an inspection or there are reasonable grounds for believing that the operator or person will fail to cooperate with an inspection, the judicial justice of the peace may issue a warrant authorizing the inspector named in the warrant to enter the facilities or premises and carry out an inspection in accordance with subsections 9(2) to (4), subject to any conditions specified in the warrant. Application without notice (2) An application for a warrant under subsection (1) may be made without notice. 2012,c.2,s.10; 2018,c.52,s.50. 11. Notification of Board An inspector shall notify the College of Paramedicine of Prince Edward Island, in writing, where a paramedic fails or refuses, without reasonable cause, to comply with a request made under subsection 9(3) or (4). 2012,c.2,s.11; 2026,c.1,s.8. 12. Obstruction of inspector (1) No person shall hinder, obstruct or interfere with, or attempt to hinder, obstruct or interfere with, an inspector in the exercise of the inspector’s powers or the performance of the inspector’s duties under this Act and the regulations. False information (2) No person shall provide false information to an inspector. 2012,c.2,s.12, 2026,c.1,s.9. 13. Inspector’s report (1) An inspector shall, within 30 days after completing an inspection of the facilities or premises of an operator, (a) prepare a written report regarding the inspection; and (b) provide a copy of the report to the Minister and to the operator. Direction to refrain from using ambulance, equipment (2) Where, after completing an inspection, an inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that an ambulance or any vehicle equipment or patient care equipment or supplies under the control of an operator do not meet the requirements as set out in the regulations, the inspector may, in writing, direct the operator to (a) refrain from using the ambulance, equipment or supplies; or (b) take the action that the inspector considers appropriate in the public interest to repair or remedy the deficiency, within the time specified by the inspector. Page 10 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Ambulance Services Act Section 14 Compliance with direction (3) Every operator who receives a direction from an inspector made under subsection (2) shall comply with the direction within the time specified in the direction. Injunction (4) Where an operator fails to comply with a direction from an inspector made under subsection (2) within the time specified in the direction, the inspector may apply to the Supreme Court for an injunction against the operator. Idem (5) The Supreme Court may grant an injunction restraining an operator from using an ambulance, equipment or supplies as directed under clause (2)(a) or until the deficiencies are repaired or remedied as directed under clause (2)(b). 2012,c.2,s.13. Paramedics 14. Prohibition, operator employing non-paramedic (1) No operator shall employ a person other than a paramedic as a paramedic or permit a person other than a paramedic to practise paramedicine in the course of employment with the operator. Prohibition, operator permitting paramedic to contravene Act (2) No operator shall permit a paramedic employed by the operator to provide ambulance services except in accordance with the Act, the regulations, and the protocols and guidelines. 2012,c.2,s.14; 2026,c.1,s.11. Patient Call Reports 15. Patient call report (1) Every paramedic who provides ambulance services, other than dispatching an ambulance, to a patient shall (a) ensure that a patient call report is completed in accordance with subsection (2) in respect of the patient; and (b) ensure that a copy of the patient call report is provided to (i) a person receiving the patient at the health facility to which the patient is transported by ambulance, if that is the case, immediately after doing so, and (ii) the operator of the ambulance operation from which the ambulance was dispatched, without delay. Form and contents (2) A patient call report prepared in respect of a patient under clause (1)(a) shall (a) be in a form approved by the Director; (b) contain the information required by the Director; and (c) be signed by (i) every paramedic who provided ambulance services to the patient, and (ii) the person receiving the patient at the health facility to which the patient is transported by ambulance, if that is the case. c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 11 Section 16 Ambulance Services Act Distribution, retention and storage by operator (3) An operator shall, with respect to any patient call report that is provided to the operator under subclause (1)(b)(ii), (a) provide a copy of the patient call report to the Minister, in a manner acceptable to the Minister; (b) retain the patient call report for the period of time prescribed by the regulations; and (c) store and later destroy the patient call report in a secure and confidential manner. Compliance with request (4) Where a person or body responsible for regulating paramedics or conducting an investigation or hearing of a disciplinary matter regarding a paramedic requests a copy of a patient call report from an operator for the purposes of an investigation or a hearing, the operator shall comply with the request, if the operator has the patient call report. 2012,c.2,s.15; 2013,c.26,s.2; 2026,c.1,s.12. Service 16. Manner of service (1) Any notice, directive or other document that is required to be served under this Act or the regulations is deemed to be served, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, (a) upon a copy being personally served on the person to whom it is directed; (b) upon a copy being sent by facsimile or other electronic means to the person to whom it is directed and an acknowledgement of receipt being received by the sender; or (c) five days after a copy is sent by registered mail addressed to the person to whom it is directed at the last known address for that person. Service on corporation (2) Where the person to be served is a corporation, service on a director, officer or recognized agent of the corporation in accordance with subsection (1) is deemed to be service on the corporation for the purposes of this Act. Documents to be served (3) The following documents under this Act shall be served on the persons to whom they are directed in accordance with subsections (1) and (2): (a) a directive or a reporting requirement under subsection 3(3); (b) an approval under clause 7(1)(g); (c) an exemption under subsection 7(6); (d) a notification under section 11; (e) a report under clause 13(1)(b); (f) a direction under subsection 13(2). 2012,c.2,s.16; 2026,c.1,s.13. Page 12 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Ambulance Services Act Section 17 Limitation of Liability 17. Limitation of liability No action or proceeding lies or shall be instituted for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith in the performance or intended performance of any duty or in the exercise or intended exercise of any power under this Act or the regulations against the following: (a) the Minister; (b) the Director; (c) an inspector; (d) any other person involved in the administration of this Act or the regulations. 2012,c.2,s.17. Disclosure of Information 18. Information not to be disclosed (1) No person involved in the administration of this Act or the regulations shall disclose information acquired by virtue of that involvement, except as required for the purposes of this Act or the regulations, or as otherwise required or permitted by law. Idem (2) No person involved in the provision of ambulance services shall disclose the personal information of a patient except as required to provide such ambulance services, or as otherwise required or permitted by law. 2012,c.2,s.18. Offences and Penalties 19. Offences and penalties Every person who contravenes subsection 3(4), subsection 5(1), (2) or (3), subsection 7(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5), subsection 12(1) or (2), subsection 13(3), subsection 14(1) or (2), subsection 15(3) or (4) or subsection 18(1) or (2) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both. 2012,c.2,s.19; 2013,c.26,s.3; 2026,c.1,s.14. 20. Penalties (1) Every officer, director or agent of a corporation who directs, authorizes, assents to, acquiesces in, or participates in, the commission of an offence under this Act or the regulations by that corporation is also guilty of the offence and is liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both. Idem (2) Subsection (1) applies whether or not the corporation has been prosecuted or convicted of the offence. 2012,c.2,s.20. c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 13 Section 21 Ambulance Services Act 21. Prosecution, limitation period No prosecution for an offence under this Act or the regulations shall be commenced after two years from the date when the offence is alleged to have been committed. 2012,c.2,s.21. Injunction 22. Injunction The Supreme Court may, on the application of the Director and on being satisfied that there is reason to believe that there is or will be a contravention of subsection 5(1), (2) or (3), subsection 7(1), (2) or (3) or subsection 14(1) or (2) or of the regulations, grant an injunction restraining a person from committing or continuing the contravention. 2012,c.2,s.22. Regulations 23. Regulations (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (a) respecting the duties of an inspector; (b) respecting the circumstances in which an ambulance may be used for the transportation of human remains under clause 7(1)(f); (c) establishing classes of ambulances; (d) respecting the motor vehicle construction, design, maintenance and safety requirements for each class of ambulance; (e) respecting the vehicle equipment and patient care equipment and supplies required to be carried in each class of ambulance; (f) establishing the required methods of cleaning, disinfecting and decontaminating each class of ambulance and the vehicle equipment and patient care equipment and supplies carried in each class of ambulance; (g) respecting the use and maintenance of defibrillators and other vehicle equipment and patient care equipment and supplies carried in ambulances; (h) respecting the staff complement required for each class of ambulance; (i) respecting the circumstances in which each class of ambulance may be used to provide ambulance services; (j) prescribing the period of time for which a patient call report must be retained under clause 15(3)(b); (k) providing that the contravention of certain provisions of the regulations constitutes an offence and prescribing penalties for such an offence; (l) defining any word or expression used in this Act or the regulations that is not defined in this Act; (m) further defining any word or expression defined in this Act; (n) respecting transitional matters necessary or advisable for the effective implementation of this Act; and (o) generally for carrying out any of the purposes of this Act. Page 14 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Ambulance Services Act Section 24 Adoption by reference (2) A regulation made under clauses (1)(d) to (g) may adopt by reference, in whole or in part and with such changes as are considered necessary, one or more written documents, standards, codes or guidelines, established by the Government of Prince Edward Island or the government of another jurisdiction, a board or agency of such a government or by any association, person or entity, relating to the matters referred to in clauses (1)(d) to (g) and may require compliance with the document, standard, code or guideline as adopted. Standard, code or guideline as amended (3) A regulation made under clauses (1)(d) to (g) may adopt a document, standard, code or guideline referred to in subsection (2) as the case may be, as amended from time to time. Copies available for inspection (4) A copy of every document, standard, code or guideline adopted by reference under subsection (2) or (3) shall be made available for public inspection during regular business hours in the office of the Director. 2012,c.2,s.23; 2026,c.1,s.15. Transitional 24. Provincial Emergency Medical Director deemed to be appointed under this Act (1) Repealed by 2013,c.26,s.4(1). Inspector deemed to be appointed under this Act (2) A person who was designated by the Board under section 42 of the Public Health Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. P-30 as an inspector and who holds office immediately before the day this Act comes into force is deemed on and after the day this subsection comes into force to have been appointed under section 8 of this Act as an inspector. 2012,c.2,s.24; 2013,c.26,s.4. Consequential Amendments 25. Sections 25 and 26 (These sections make consequential amendments to other Acts. The amendments have been incorporated into those Acts.) c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 15