Whereas 9-1-1 is an essential public safety service and emergency preparedness tool and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has mandated the rollout of Next Generation 9-1-1 to move to calls to digital or IP-based infrastructure by March 1, 2025; And whereas E-Comm 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 B.C. are constrained in their financial capacity to fund these necessary, federally-mandated 9-1-1 service enhancements and have called repeatedly for new funding sources to support local 9-1-1 services, as exists in other provinces: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to work collaboratively with E-Comm to develop a new provincial mandate and structure for 9-1-1 service delivery, with an improved governance, funding and operational model, in order 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.
