Whereas 9-1-1 is an essential public safety service and emergency preparedness tool, and the CRTC has mandated the rollout of Next Generation 9-1-1 NG9-1-1 to move to calls to digital or IP-based infrastructure by March 1, 2025, and has communicated the need for a significant additional funding commitment from its local government service partners in 2022 and beyond, yet there is no provincially-governed agency responsible for the planning, operation and coordination of 9-1-1 services in BC; And whereas local governments in BC are constrained in their financial revenue sources and financial capacity to fund these necessary and essential federally-mandated 9-1-1 service enhancements, and have called repeatedly for new funding sources to support local 9-1-1 services, as exist in other provinces, including adopting resolutions through the UBCM calling for a provincial wireless call-answer levy to fund local 9-1-1 service in 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2019 and 2021: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to work collaboratively with the UBCM to develop a new provincial mandate and structure for 91-1 service delivery, with an improved governance, funding and operational model, to help modernize and improve 9-1-1 services across BC, including the planning, operation and coordination of CRTC mandated Next Generation 9-1-1 services.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Government is working to protect BC communities and make them stronger. The Policing and Security Branch will be seeking Government direction to support implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 and modernization of emergency communications service delivery in BC. Policing and public safety reform are a priority for this government and any provincial response to the challenges facing emergency communications service delivery will take these priorities into consideration. Such a response would also involve collaboration with local governments through the Local Government Policing Modernization Roundtable or other forums established to support discussions on policing and public safety reform.