OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC has approved, with conditions, an interim service that will make it easier for residents in the Yukon to access emergency responders.
This service was proposed by the Yukon Government as a temporary solution for communities that currently do not have 9-1-1 service, while it strives to implement 9-1-1 service throughout the territory within the next 12 to 20 months. Basic 9-1-1 service is currently available only in the Whitehorse area.
Callers within all communities of the Yukon will be able to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency situation rather than one of the seven-digit numbers currently used by some emergency response agencies in communities without 9-1-1. By dialing 9-1-1, callers will be directed by an automated service to select either police, fire or emergency medical services from an interactive menu.
The Commission approved this proposal Friday on the condition that all calls using the service are ultimately answered, meaning that calls to local police, fire and emergency medical services that are not answered must be automatically transferred to the local RCMP detachment or the 9-1-1 call centre in Whitehorse. Once Basic 9-1-1 service has been implemented throughout the territory, all 9-1-1 calls will be answered by a trained live 9-1-1 operator who can dispatch the appropriate emergency responders.
Due to the special circumstances of this case, the CRTC said that the tariff approved in this decision will have a limited duration and remain in effect until July 28, 2016 pending the introduction of Basic 9-1-1 service. In addition, the CRTC directed the Yukon Government to conduct a public awareness campaign to explain how the service functions, as well as its availability, characteristics and limitations.
“This interim solution is a step towards keeping citizens and visitors safer in the Yukon, as it will make it possible for them to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency situation”, said CRTC telecommunications vice-chair Peter Menzies, in a statement. “However, it is now up to the Yukon Government to fulfill its commitment and implement Basic 9-1-1 service throughout the territory as soon as possible.”
www.crtc.gc.ca
