April 16, 2013
Minister Announces Key Decisions for Province-wide Basic 911 Implementation
Moving forward on the commitment to implement a province-wide basic 911 system by the end of 2014, today the Provincial Government outlined information regarding the funding for and governance of the system.
“Our government is committed to ensuring that this system is designed and implemented in a way that is reliable, sustainable, and secure for the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services. “Today we have announced how the system will be governed and financed to contribute to a solid foundation for public safety in our province. These decisions set the stage to continue the work already underway as we move forward to meet the 2014 implementation date.”
The Provincial Government has adopted a board approach to govern the 911 system. In addition, government has determined that a cost-recovery model for system financing is the most prudent and practical approach to ensuring the efficiency and sustainability of the system. The cost-recovery model will see a monthly user-pay levy imposed on all landlines and wireless telephones in the province once the system is activated in late 2014. Further information on the decisions outlined today is provided in the backgrounder below.
“I was pleased that Budget 2013 allocated funds to continue to advance work underway on development and implementation of the province-wide basic 911 system,” noted Minister O’Brien. “These funds will be used to create and establish the 911 project team in the months to come. Combined with input of our stakeholders throughout the province, this measured and planned approach has us well-positioned to see province-wide basic 911 become a reality in Newfoundland and Labrador by the end of 2014.”
Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future provides $750,000 to continue the work underway for the development and implementation of the province-wide basic 911 system – a strategic investment and integral component of the Provincial Government’s plan to ensure safe and secure communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Photo: Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services Kevin O'Brien and FES-NL CEO Mike Samson (R) outline key decisions on the implementation of province-wide basic 911. April 16, 2013.
Media contact:
Cheryl Gullage
Public Relations Specialist
Fire and Emergency Services - Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-0857, 631-9962
CherylGullage@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Key Decisions for the Implementation of a Province-wide Basic 911 System
Decisions outlined today for the implementation of a province-wide basic 911 system are as follows:
- Adoption of an arms-length approach to the ownership and operation of the basic 911 system. The Provincial Government has determined that the best model for system management is to operate through a structured governance model, such as a Board of Directors.
- Acceptance of a cost-recovery model to finance the operations of the system. After careful consideration and analysis, the most efficient, effective method of financing is to implement a monthly user-pay levy on all land lines and wireless phones in the province, as is the case in modern 911 systems in North America. Such a levy is anticipated to be less than $1 per telephone, per month, and would come into effect once the system is operational.
- Funding provided through Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future of $750,000 will be used for the creation and establishment of a 911 project team to position the province to ‘go live’ with the basic 911 system by the end of 2014. The project team will have an integral role to play in completing the other important work including, but not limited to:
- Establishing the 911 board in consultation with stakeholders and interest groups;
- Drafting the legislative and regulatory framework for the basic 911 system;
- Identifying emergency response zones;
- Establishing guidelines, procedures and policies;
- Making arrangements and establishing agreements with public service answering points (the centres where 911 calls are received), otherwise known as PSAPs, to receive and properly channel the calls routed through the basic 911 system;
- Establishing training standards and quality assurance procedures;
- Commencing a public education plan for both residents and emergency responders, to provide key information on the basic 911 system and to minimize abuse and misuse of this important emergency tool; and,
- Developing and implementing an approach to civic addressing, in conjunction with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador and the Municipal Assessment Agency. Civic addressing is not required for a basic 911 system, but it is required for the advanced, Next Generation 911 system, which is part of the Provincial Government’s long-term plan.
2013 04 16 12:40 p.m.