A new provincial bill will cost Foothills residents more money on their phone bills.
Bill 56, the Local Measures Statutes Amendment Act, included an increase in 911 levy on phone bills from 44 cents to 95 cents. The intent is to cover the costs of federally-mandated upgrades to the emergency response system.
“Once system upgrades are completed by 2024, Albertans will be able to text 911 in situations when they cannot call, first responders will get additional details including more accurate location information, and calls will be transferred seamlessly from one centre to another using the same technology,” the Government of Alberta stated in a release.
The estimated cost to upgrade 911 centres across the province is $41 million per year until 2024.
Suzanne Oel, Foothills County reeve and chair of Foothills Regional Emergency Services Commission, said the announcement comes with good news for local governments.
“We’re happy in that at least half our funding comes from municipalities, half from these phone fees, so we’re happy that amount has increased,” said Oel. “That will be a bit of a reduction on the burden to our municipalities – that’s the good news part.”
About 20 primary public safety answering points will benefit from the additional funds, she said. Nine secondary centres – like AHS EMS, RCMP detachments and fire departments not connected to a 911 centre – will also receive funds for upgrades, conditional to them reaching provincial 911 standards.
She said Foothills 911 has been in compliance with those standards for years, and now other centres are being required to meet that level of service and be prepared for Next Generation 911.
“They will have to get themselves lined up in order to get those funds,” said Oel. “That’s good as well, because that means everybody will be on the same playing field and technology will be reciprocated back and forth and there shouldn’t be any hiccups.”
Foothills 911 is well on its way to being set up for the Next-Gen service, she said, which will allow people in emergencies to text 911 operators, send photos and be located easier. It can help those in distress and unable to talk, or the hearing impaired, she said.
“That’s really the rubber-hits-the-road reason,” said Oel. “It’s just enhancing the ability for the centres to deal with that new technology. It’s something that is going to be helpful for people.”
