Executive Council
Justice and Public Safety
February 26, 2015
Basic 911 Service Enhances Safety for Residents
Agreement Reached for 911 Call-Taking on the Avalon Peninsula
The Provincial Government today announced that an agreement has been
reached with the City of St. John's for the operation of a 911 call-taking
centre, also known as Public Safety Answering Point, for the new
province-wide Basic 911 service for the Avalon Peninsula.
"After extensive negotiations between our government and the City of St.
John's, I'm pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached for the
provision of 911 on the Avalon Peninsula. The agreement respects the needs
of each party and satisfies the reporting and accountability framework for
the NL 911 Bureau Inc. which is legislated under the Emergency 911 Act.
Today's announcement is one of the final steps toward full implementation of
the new Basic 911 service in the coming days."
- The
Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
The
911 agreement will see the City of St. John's operate one of two Public
Safety Answering Points for the NL 911 Bureau Inc., the Crown Corporation
responsible for governing and operating the province-wide emergency 911
service. The agreement includes a provision for multi-year budgeting, which
provides for greater financial stability for both parties. Intellectual
property will belong to either the Bureau or the City, depending on which
one has paid for it. Funding for the call-taking centre at the St. John's
Regional Fire Department will enable adherence to National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) standards.
"The safety and security of
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians is of paramount importance to our
government. All residents of Newfoundland and Labrador will have access to
province-wide Basic 911 in the coming days. This is a tremendous
accomplishment and will set the stage for the future implementation of Next
Generation 911 in the years ahead. On behalf of the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador, I offer our sincere appreciation to all
organizations and individuals that have worked with us to make this
initiative a reality. Residents and visitors of the province will
undoubtedly be safer as a result of province-wide Basic 911."
- The Honourable Judy Manning, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and
Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and
Labrador
The new province-wide Basic 911 service will come into
effect next week. The St. John's Regional Fire Department will soon handle
all 911 calls east of Goobies.
"The City of St. John's,
through the St. John's Regional Fire Department, has provided the 911
service to the region for over 20 years. Following successful negotiations
we are pleased to have reached an agreement with the NL 911 Bureau Inc. and
the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to continue to provide this
critical service to residents of the Avalon Peninsula."
-
Dennis O'Keefe, Mayor, City of St. John's
The monthly telephone
fee to operate the 911 service will come into effect on March 1, 2015.
An announcement regarding the full implementation of 911 for the entire
province will be made in the coming days.
QUICK FACTS
- An agreement has been reached between the Provincial Government and the City of St. John's for the operation of a 911 call taking centre for the Avalon Peninsula for new province-wide Basic 911 service.
- The St. John's Regional Fire Department will soon handle all 911 calls east of Goobies.
- Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador will have access to province-wide Basic 911 during the first week of March 2015.
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Media contacts:
| Heather MacLean Director of Communications Office of the Premier Government of Newfoundland and Labrador 709-729-3581 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca |
Donna Ivey Special Assistant, Communications Office of the Premier Government of Newfoundland and Labrador 709 729-3551, 699-2402 Donnaivey@gov.nl.ca |
| Bradley Power Public Relations Specialist Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador 709-729-0857, 690-1810 bradleypower@gov.nl.ca |
Kelly Maguire Media Relations City of St. John's 709-576-8491 kmaguire@stjohns.ca |
2015 02 26 7:50 p.m.