Ambulance fees in Manitoba have dropped again.

The provincial government announced yesterday that fees would drop to a maximum of $250 per ride, effectively immediately.

Minister of Health, Seniors, and Active Living Cameron Friesen says people have responded well to the news.

"I can tell you that in the two years previous when we already did some additional reduction, we heard very positive responses from Manitobans," says Friesen. "From seniors, from people with fixed income, from people earning a lower income that said this really makes a difference."

The government had reduced the cost from an average of $500 in 2016, down to $425 in 2017, down to $340 last year.

Friesen says $500 was just too high for some members of our communities.

"When they knew that themselves or a loved one needed to dial 9-1-1, there needed to be an ambulance dispatched with EMS personnel, they chose not to do so and they cited the cost as the reason," says Friesen. "That's a tremendously sad statement."