City budget drafts $1 monthly 911 fee to help pay for federal system upgrade – Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg was the first city in North America to introduce a three-digit phone number to contact emergency services in 1959.

But the city's 911 infrastructure hasn't kept up with technological advances since then.

The multi-year budget proposal released last week includes a proposed $1 monthly fee for anyone with a Winnipeg address to fund a $10 million project to upgrade 911 that will allow dispatchers to better locate calls made from cell phones. residents can send texts and photos to emergency operators.

The budget project must be approved by the city council. Telephone charges require provincial government approval.

“Right now, if you download an app, the app on your phone knows where to find you and knows exactly where you are,” said Stacey Kann, director of 911 communications for Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Services.

“When you call 911 with that device, you think the infrastructure behind 911 systems is so antiquated that it can't accurately capture where you're calling from.”

Winnipeg has had a text-to-911 program for several years, but it's for people who are hard of hearing or speech impaired and requires phones to be registered with WFPS.

The proposed updates bring this program up to a standard that is accessible to all.

Ron Williscroft, director of special projects for WFPS, cited cases of active assault or domestic violence as examples where texts can be effective, but said calling remains the best way for many people to get the help they need.

“Industry associations have always said, if you can call, call, and if you can't, you can text,” he said.

Data from some areas of the U.S. that have text options for emergency calls show that less than one percent of all calls for service are sent via text messages, and WFPS expects to see similar statistics in Winnipeg.

Today, only Alberta's Strathcona County and Toronto fire services have the technology.

The rest of the country is scrambling to catch up due to an upcoming federal mandate requiring 911 systems to transition to next-generation networks by March 2025.

“We're the first country in the world to actually do this from coast to coast. For example, the United States is implementing it on a regional municipal basis. It's a very piecemeal approach,” Williscroft said.

“Many other countries are now looking to Canada because we are the first major country to implement this across the country.”

The changes are unlikely to affect the record number of 911 calls Winnipeg recorded last year. While the city budget has asked the Winnipeg Police Service and WFPS to consider consolidating their call centers to improve overall efficiency, Cann and Williscroft said it's too early to discuss that possibility.

If approved, payment will be charged to monthly phone bills and will begin on July 1st.

Premier Wab Kinew said last week he would work with Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham on mandatory changes.

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