Toronto Paramedics Plan Regional Backup for FIFA World Cup

0:00Toronto's paramedic services are teaming up with Durham, York, and Peel regions to handle the crush during the FIFA World Cup matches next year. Officials say the city will see over 230,000 extra visitors each day, slamming emergency response and transit hard. The plan targets 10 high demand days from June 11th to July 2nd, 2026, when games hit BMO field. City leaders like the paramedic chief and FIFA director pitched this mutual aid setup to keep ambulances rolling without overload. Doctors warn big events like this spike hospital visits from fights, booze, and drugs, and Canada just doesn't have enough beds or staff to cover the surge. It's a real strain on the whole system. Earlier this week, paramedics posted a memo outlining the integrated model nearby crews will answer Toronto calls from their own dispatch, using border stations for quick response. The whole thing costs $800,000, fitting snug inside the $7.9 million dollar FIFA budget.

1:01City Council votes on it late May, so we'll see if this regional backup locks in to keep the cup running smooth for everyone. From your city, powered by AI, this is Canada News Today, I'm Corey with the story.