A call to donate “end-of-life” Winnipeg emergency vehicles to war-battered Ukraine has emerged at city hall.
Coun. Russ Wyatt wants the city to send fire trucks to Ukraine, after they’ve been deemed too old to use locally. He is also calling on the city to request that the province donate its end-of-life ambulances; the provincial government owns Winnipeg’s ambulances and those used in other municipalities.)
“There’s a horrific conflict going on (in Ukraine) and I think they need all the help they can get. If we can help them this way, I think that would be terrific,” said Wyatt (Transcona).
WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES A Winnipeg city councilor wants the city to send fire trucks that have been deemed too old to use by WFPS, to Ukraine.
Wyatt also wants the two levels of government to work together, possibly with federal assistance, to figure out how best to transport the heavy-duty vehicles to the eastern European country.
Ukraine has suffered substantial losses since Russia invaded in February 2022. The fighting is believed to have resulted in tens of thousands of deaths thus far.
Wyatt said Ukrainian officials have proven industrious, so any potentially useful supplies should be offered.
He said he’s hopeful the “end-of-life label” won’t prevent some useful vehicles from being donated, noting each piece of equipment would have to be assessed individually.
The motion followed Wyatt’s discussions with the Manitoba provincial council of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, he said.
Joanne Lewandosky, the council’s president, said the donation would be welcome, if the city approves it and the details can be worked out.
“These are the type of vehicles… that are being destroyed constantly (in Ukraine) and there’s never enough. Every time there’s a bomb that hits a building, they do need a fire truck,” said Lewandosky, adding any help for Ukraine is appreciated.
“We’ve got to be able to take what we can get and make it work,” she said.
Public works chairwoman Coun. Janice Lukes expressed concern that the idea could face multiple obstacles.
“The fire department says (the trucks are) so old, they really don’t function that well. We’ll hear what (city officials) have to say,” said Lukes (Waverley West).
It’s also unclear how the city would get the vehicles to Ukraine, which could prove extremely expensive, she said, adding other communities might benefit from such donations and should be considered, as well.
“I think we have a great need (for emergency equipment) here in our (smaller) Indigenous communities. If a fire truck is worth salvaging, that’s what we should look at,” she said.
End-of-life fire trucks are currently sent to auction and sold whole or as scrap metal, she said, adding city officials informed her that Winnipeg doesn’t currently have any end-of-life fire trucks available.
Wyatt’s motion will be debated at next Tuesday’s meeting of council’s public works committee.
Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service officials declined to answer questions about the condition of and potential to reuse end-of-life fire trucks, noting staff will provide a verbal report on the matter at the public works meeting.
In a statement, a spokesman from the province said the government recently completed an inventory and determined there were no ambulances suitable for donation.
“Our government will always work collaboratively with our civic partners, and we would review any proposals they send our way. In some occasions, the province has donated ambulances, and in fact the most recent donation was to Ukraine six years ago.”
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Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Joyanne loves to tell the stories of this city, especially when politics is involved. Joyanne became the city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press in early 2020.
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