WHEREAS cost recovery for 911 Emergency Telephone Service should be established on an equitable system based on the likelihood of its use, rather than by parcel tax, which over-taxes ranchers and under-taxes mobile home parks, or on the value of residents land or improvements, which is irrelevant to the service; AND WHEREAS the CRTC Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission provides local governments with an option for 911 cost recovery as it mandates all service providers, upon request, to bill and collect a 911 fee or levy on behalf of a local authority; however, this is only available for wire line telephone services: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the provincial government to enact legislation that would require wireless telephone service providers to collect 911 service costs on behalf of local governments, upon request, as has been done in Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
Ministry of Public Safety Solicitor General The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General is currently reviewing options related to 911 emergency services, including a Call Access Levy on wireless phones. Introduction of a Call Access Levy on wireless phones will be considered by the Province if a consensus on a recommended model can be achieved between local authorities and industry. Such a model will be required to: - Improve public safety; - Contain costs for all stakeholders; and, - Meet public expectations regarding 911 services and funding