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County of Renfrew warden calls on township to restore Jaws of Life funding

The warden of the County of Renfrew is calling on the Township of Head, Clara and Maria to restore funding for life-saving machinery used to free people trapped in badly damaged vehicles.

Rescues in the small township requiring equipment referred to as the Jaws of Life used to be provided under agreements with neighbouring towns because it has no fire department of its own.

But in August 2015, the township about two hours west of Ottawa voted to stop paying when it was faced with a potential annual bill of $34,000.

Head, Clara and Maria Mayor Jim Gibson said the municipality simply can't afford to bring its own fire service back, and that new volunteers weren't stepping forward anyway.

Gibson said the province is responsible for providing extrication service along the 30 kilometres of Highway 17 that run through the township.

In an email to CBC News, the Ministry of Transportation said municipalities are reimbursed for crash rescue services that municipal firefighters provide on Ontario highways.

The province, however, does not pay for the equipment itself.

"Municipalities are responsible for establishing their level of fire protection services specific to their needs and circumstances. They are further responsible to fund and deliver those services," the emailed statement reads.

The ministry also said it encourages the municipalities to work together to find a solution.

'Overly simplistic'

County of Renfrew Warden Peter Emon said Gibson's view that the province is responsible is "overly simplistic."

"There are lots of provincial responsibilities that municipalities have had to assume over time and this isn't a new one. ... It's been ... a responsibility of municipalities for, I'm going to say, at least 20 years, since the '90s," Emon said.

"And it's something we've all grown used to budgeting for, those of us that are along the Highway 17 corridor, and those of us who are along Highway 60, 41 and 132."

About 40 vehicles crash on the strip of Highway 17 in Head, Clara and Maria every year, Emon added.

"Public safety is usually a priority for most municipalities and I think when Head, Clara and Maria reconsiders it, they likely will take a look at it through that lens. I hope they will, anyway," Emon said.

"I think council ... would be hard-pressed to explain to a relative of one of their rate-payers, or one of their summer visitors or property owners, as to why they weren't able to offer assistance to a person in a car."