No foundation for 911

Calls for a provincial 911 service have surfaced again in recent weeks.

The surge was brought on by the CRTC (Canadian Radio and Television Commission) decision to require cell phone companies to bring in technology that will allow them to identify a person's location through GPS when an emergency call is placed from a cell phone.

One of the supporters of a province-wide system is NDP leader Lorraine Michael.

Ms. Michael says it's shameful that not everyone in the province has access to basic 911 service. She claims government is dragging its heels on finalizing the terms of reference for a feasibility study.

"If the Williams administration truly believed that province wide 911 services are a priority, they would have done what is necessary to expedite the process," she said.

If one has ever tried to give directions to a stranger in rural parts of this province, one can likely appreciate some of the very basic challenges a province-wide 911 system may face.

Civic addresses are few and far between in many parts of the island.

"About five minutes down the road past the barn on your left that blew down last winter but before you get to the store that used to be Smith General" isn't going to be of much use to a 911 dispatcher who will more than likely be sitting inside the overpass. But the more local person answering the fire department or police phones may understand the location of the emergency with no more description than "old Mr. Anderson's place."

And that's only one challenge a provincial system would face. There's also cost, connectivity, technology and more.

Besides, in some communities the challenge isn't remembering the phone number - it's having emergency services like fire departments, with adequate equipment and volunteers, to call in the first place.

Government money would be far better spent to ensure those services are in place and well funded before spending potentially hundreds of thousands on a provincial 911 system.

Is 911 easier to remember and dial than a regular telephone number? Of course.

But given that the foundation for such a system isn't yet in place, a province-wide system isn't likely to materialize anytime soon.

Until it does, residents should take the good advice emergency groups have been giving out for years - write down the emergency numbers in your area by your telephone, or save them in your cell.