Members of the region's public health committee calling the latest numbers from EMS unacceptable.
The committee hearing from EMS they expect paramedics will wait up to 13,000 hours this year getting patients into overcrowded emergency departments in Niagara.
The offload delays will cost the region about $1.6 million.
The committee voting to direct EMS Chief Kevin Smith to meet with NHS management to come up with a plan to immediately address the backlog issue.