UPDATED: Text with 9-1-1 services begins in B.C., though not without controversy

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Hearing or speech impaired persons in Metro Vancouver and surrounding areas may now communicate with emergency services using Text with 9-1-1 (T9-1-1).On Tuesday, E-Comm, the emergency communication centre that provides 9-1-1 service to the region, became the first Canadian public safety answering point to introduce T9-1-1 service for the deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or speech impaired (DHHSI) community. DHHSI members in E-Comm's service area must first register with their wireless service provider in order to access the service. When a DHHSI person requires 9-1-1 services, they dial 9-1-1 on their cell phone. There is no need for a...