CALGARY – The Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) has asked the CRTC to assign the three digit number 8-1-1 to the Canadian ‘Call Before You Dig’ program, as it is in the U.S.
‘Call Before You Dig’ is a service that allows the public to identify the location of buried utilities before starting digging projects to reduce potentially hazardous situations. CCGA says that a Canada-wide three digit number will make it easier to follow this practice, and as a result, protect Canada’s underground utility network and increase public safety.
"Making that one call is critical, it can save lives or avoid major environmental impacts", said Mike Sullivan, CCGA chair and president of Alberta One-Call, in a statement. "An easy to remember nation-wide three digit number will increase call volume to One-Call centres and significantly reduce the unnecessary risk to the public and unnecessary interruptions in services."
The CRTC assigned the 8-1-1 number in 2007 to tele-health services in Canada to provide non-emergency health expertise over the phone, however, the CCGA says that allowing the 8-1-1 number to be also used for the ‘Call Before You Dig’ program will “serve public health in the widest sense”.
The application is a joint effort among all Common Ground Alliance Regional Partners in Canada and was crafted with the support of the Canadian Gas Association and the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association.
