SAANICH – New Democrat MLA Lana Popham says that emergency responders in Saanich will be better equipped to provide services to people, thanks to new funding for improved 911 communication systems.

“Saanich Firefighters help our community members in need, and respond with efficiency, care, and professionalism to every situation,” said Lana Popham, MLA for Saanich South. “With this funding, Saanich Fire Dispatch will be improved to better serve community members and the first responders we rely on.”

Saanich received $299,886 for Fire Dispatch for public safety access point tech installation, business continuity, training, and mapping.

These upgrades and improvements will also help communities to prepare for the future implementation of Next Generation 911. This service will make the 911 system more accessible and allow callers to provide dispatchers with additional details about their emergency, including photos and videos.

This funding is part of a total investment of $150 million to help B.C. prepare for the transition to Next Generation 911. E-Comm, which handles 99% of B.C.’s 911 call volume, received $90 million for technological upgrades. The remaining $60 million was distributed to communities through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) to defray costs, such as staffing, training and quality assurance.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023PSSG0012-000245