Subsection 56(1) Class Exemption for Designated Administrators of Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance Service Operators in Saskatchewan

Pursuant to subsection 56(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), Designated Administrators of licensed ambulance service/air ambulance service operators in the province of Saskatchewan are exempted for medical purposes from the application of the following provisions of the CDSA:

• Subsection 4(1) of the CDSA with respect to fentanyl, hydromorphone, ketamine, morphine and pethidine.
• Subsections 5(1) and 5(2) of the CDSA with respect to diazepam, fentanyl, hydromorphone, ketamine, lorazepam, midazolam, morphine and pethidine.

In respect of this exemption,

• Controlled substance means one of the following substances: diazepam, fentanyl, hydromorphone, ketamine, lorazepam, midazolam, morphine and pethidine.
• Designated Administrator means a person who is in a managerial position and is ultimately responsible for ordering, transporting, storing and providing controlled substances for an ambulance service/air ambulance service operator licensed under The Ambulance Act (Saskatchewan).
• Paramedic means a person who is registered and entitled under The Paramedics Act (Saskatchewan) to practice as an Intermediate Care Paramedic or Advanced Care Paramedic or Critical Care Paramedic in that province and to administer controlled substances as part of the practice of paramedicine, and who is employed by an ambulance service/air ambulance service operator licensed under The Ambulance Act (Saskatchewan).
• Unserviceable controlled substance means a drug product containing a controlled substance that is expired, contaminated, damaged, or any residual controlled substance remaining in a multi-dose vial.

This exemption provides the aforementioned Designated Administrators with the authority to order, possess, transport, store and provide controlled substances required by paramedics employed by a licensed ambulance service/air ambulance service operator with which Designated Administrators are affiliated.

The exemption is only applicable if the following conditions are met. Designated Administrators must:

1. Take necessary steps, in accordance with guidelines established by the Ministry of Health or the organization that provides emergency medical services with which they are affiliated, to ensure the security of controlled substances in storage and during transportation;
2. Order controlled substances only from a hospital pharmacy and return any unserviceable controlled substances for destruction to the originating hospital pharmacy;
3. Record all transactions involving controlled substances, i.e., date, name and quantity of controlled substances ordered, received, stored in ambulances, aircrafts or any vehicle designated by the ambulance service or air ambulance service,  provided to paramedics (to be carried on their person) and returned to originating hospital pharmacy for destruction;
4. Record the name and address of the person from whom the controlled substance was purchased, received and returned to;
5. Maintain all records submitted by paramedics working for their ambulance service/air ambulance service operator;
6. Report all incidences of loss or theft of controlled substances in writing to Health Canada within 10 days of discovery; and
7. Keep information specified in (3) to (5) for at least two years and make it available to Health Canada upon request.

This exemption replaces the “Section 56 Class Exemption for Designated Administrators of Ambulance Service/Air Ambulance Service Operators in Saskatchewan” that was issued on April 30, 2010. This exemption will remain in effect until the date on which this exemption has been replaced or the date on which this exemption is revoked.

The Minister may at any time and for any reason revoke or change the terms and conditions of this exemption. Should this be the case, you will be informed in writing and reasons for the revocation or changes will be provided.

A suspension of this exemption without prior notice may be ordered if the Minister deems that such a suspension is necessary to protect public health, safety or security.

Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of this exemption may, among other things, result in immediate suspension of this exemption, and ultimately, in its revocation.

Signed for and on behalf of the Minister of Health

Jennifer Saxe
Director General
Controlled Substances Directorate
Health Canada

Effective Date: April 30, 2010

Updated on: April 9, 2021