4 (1) The Minister has the duty and the power, (a)  to ensure the existence throughout Ontario of a balanced and integrated system of ambulance services and communication services used in dispatching ambulances; (b)  Repealed:  1997, c. 30, Sched. A, s. 5 (2). (c)  to establish, maintain and operate communication services, alone or in co-operation with others, and to fund such services; (d)  to establish standards for the management, operation and use of ambulance services and to ensure compliance with those standards; (e)  to monitor, inspect and evaluate ambulance services and investigate complaints respecting ambulance services; and (f)  to fund and ensure the provision of air ambulance services.  R.S.O. 1990, c. A.19, s. 4 (1); 1997, c. 30, Sched. A, s. 5 (1-4); 1999, c. 12, Sched. J, s. 3. Powers of Minister (2) The Minister has, in addition to the powers under subsection (1), the power, (a)  to establish and operate, alone or in co-operation with one or more organizations, institutes and centres for the training of personnel for ambulance services and communication services; (b)  to require hospitals to establish, maintain and operate ambulance services and communication services; (c)  to establish regions and districts for the purposes of ambulance services and communication services; and (d)  to designate hospitals as base hospitals that shall monitor the quality of the care provided by ambulance services in the regions and districts established by the Minister under clause (c) and perform such other functions as may be assigned to them by regulation.  1997, c. 30, Sched. A, s. 5 (5). Same, certain corporations (2.1) The Minister may designate one or more corporations without share capital as having the powers and responsibilities of a base hospital under this Act and, where the Minister has done so, (a)  any provision of this Act or the regulations that applies to a base hospital shall also be deemed to apply to the corporation unless this Act or the regulations specifically provide otherwise; and (b)  the corporation continues to have any other powers, responsibilities and capacities that a corporation can have under this Act or the regulations.  2005, c. 31, Sched. 1, s. 1. Non-application of Legislation Act, 2006 (2.2) Part III of the Legislation Act, 2006 does not apply to the designation of a hospital under clause (2) (d) or of a corporation without share capital under subsection (2.1).  2005, c. 31, Sched. 1, ss. 1, 2. Grants (3) The Minister may make grants for the purpose of providing or ensuring the provision of services under this Act.  2007, c. 10, Sched. A, s. 1. Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 1997, c. 30, Sched. A, s. 5 (1-5) - 1/01/1998; 1999, c. 12, Sched. J, s. 3 (1-3) - 1/05/2000 2005, c. 31, Sched. 1, s. 1 - 15/12/2005; 2005, c. 31, Sched. 1, s. 2 (3) - 19/10/2006 2007, c. 10, Sched. A, s. 1 - 4/06/2007 PART III 
RESPONSIBILITIES OF UPPER-TIER MUNICIPALITIES General 5 Repealed:  2009, c. 33, Sched. 18, s. 1 (1). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 1997, c. 30, Sched. A, s. 6 - 1/01/1998; 1999, c. 9, s. 2 - 23/12/1999;1999, c. 12, Sched. J, s. 4 - 1/05/2000 2009, c. 33, Sched. 18, s. 1 (1) - 15/12/2009