Saskatchewan changing fees for air ambulance, oil and gas tenure

Some fees and charges are increasing in Saskatchewan.

The government announced that the provincially-run air ambulance service will increase by 10 per cent over each of the next three years for residents.

Right now it costs $350. As of July 1, it’ll jump up to $385. As of April 1, 2017 the fee will increase to $424. One year after that the cost will rest at $465.

For those out-of-province residents and for third-party insurers, fees will go up $1 per mile from $5.29 to $6.29 as of July 1. By 2018, the price will be $7.60 a mile.

The government maintains it’s the first increase due to inflationary pressure in 15 years.

It’s estimated about 900 clients each year use the air ambulance service, while 725 trips are paid for by non-residents and third-party insurers.

The province is also modernizing fees for companies that hold oil and gas tenure in Saskatchewan. A number of paper-based service fees will be replaced by a one-time fee of $600 for each new oil and gas disposition issued. The move will impact about 680 companies. That change is expected to be approved sometime this summer.