News Release Archive
ENVIRONMENT--911 UPDATE ----------------------------------------------------------------- Environment Minister Wayne Adams, minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Act, is calling on all Nova Scotians to cooperate with their municipal governments in clearly posting their addresses. The minister's reminder comes as he prepares the final agenda for Enhanced Emergency 911 service throughout the province. Nova Scotia becomes the only Canadian province with a fully integrated 911 emergency system. But there is a hitch in the final plans. The Halifax Regional Municipality is not ready for full service. Earlier this year the municipality asked for a three-month delay to allow time to install equipment necessary for the activation of 911 emergency dispatch in the metro area. At the time, HRM informed the department they would be ready to participate in 911 service Dec. 31. Recently, the municipality informed the Department of the Environment that they would not be able to participate in providing the service until May, 1997. The additional delay is the result of a shortage of staff until the fire and police dispatch personnel are consolidated within a new facility in Bedford. Mr. Adams has decided that it would be unfair to deny residents in surrounding areas the protection of 911 service. "The service saves lives. We are ready to roll, and so are the RCMP, the former Halifax County region, Lunenburg County and West Hants. I do not think it would be wise to deny people in those areas the protection of 911." Accordingly, 911 service will be available to Lunenburg County, West Hants and those parts of Halifax Regional Municipality served by the RCMP before Christmas 1996. The exact date will be announced by mid-November. With the addition of these areas, 77 per cent of Nova Scotians will be covered by the 911 umbrella. The service will be extended to Cape Breton Oct. 28, two months ahead of the original schedule. "I want to extend my appreciation to the municipal leaders and police, fire and ambulance services on Cape Breton for the outstanding effort they made to extend 911 protection to their residents well ahead of the original implementation date," said the minister. In partnership with Maritime Tel and Tel the provincial government has invested approximately $6 million in the 911 system. "I fully expect that the Halifax Regional Municipality will work out their problems so they can offer citizens of metro the same security as is now available from Cape Sable to Cape North," said Mr. Adams. -30- Contact: Paul McEachern 902-424-2575 trp Oct. 22, 1996 - 4:05 p.m.