The Manitoba government is trying to see if it can get more bang for its buck in the delivery of air services.

A Request for Proposals has been issued, covering wildfire suppression, air ambulance service, and general transport in the northern and eastern judicial district. Proponents can propose to tackle one or more of the services. Currently, these air services are delivered in a public-private arrangement.

Infrastructure minister Ron Schuler says the RFP allows the government to test the market to determine whether the same or better services can be offered privately in a more cost-effective manner. He says the outcome of the RFP is not pre-determined.

"We're not getting rid of something until we're very clear on what we're going to be getting in return," says Schuler.

Schuler says Manitoba will maintain ownership of all active water bombers.

He says the government has assured its employees that all collective agreement obligations will be honoured.

The government says the RFP has been posted to MERX under an open tendering process. The deadline for proposals is August 23.