911 Emergency Communications Service Delivery

Whereas there is a growing need for a more resilient and reliable emergency communications system, especially in light of the increasing severity and frequency of disasters and emergencies, 911 service disruptions and a growing annual emergency call volume; And whereas 911 is a universally recognized number for British Columbians to call when there is an emergency e.g., medical issue, but 911 calls related to mental health are oftentimes directed to police agencies as the first point of contact; And whereas the improvement of the 911 emergency communications system has been a long-standing priority for local governments, as well as the UBCM Executive, which has made calls for improvements related to funding, governance and standards: Therefore be it resolved that the Province of BC work with local governments to modernize the 911 emergency communications system in a manner that is consistent with recent UBCM advocacy, and which includes the following: - Implementation of a 911 call answer levy on cellular devices, to address current and future financial challenges associated with the delivery of 911 services; - Development of consistent 911 service standards, without increasing service costs for local governments; - Creation of a provincial 911 governance model, with local government representation, to address policy and service standard issues, and manage revenue; and - Integration of mental health call options within the 911 framework including culturally safe options for Indigenous and other racialized peoples.