Gananoque accepts funding for Next Generation 911

Gananoque’s implementation of the Next Generation 911 is in the works.

On Tuesday, council unanimously authorized the mayor and clerk to sign an Ontario transfer payment agreement (TPA) regarding a funding grant in the amount of $491,389 for Next Generation 911.

The existing 911 system has been in place for more than 30 years and has reached its end of life, council heard.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) has directed that emergency telecommunications networks and 911 call centres, also referred to as public safety answering points (PSAPs), must transition to a new 911 communication system, known as Next Generation (NG911), by March 4, 2025.

Once fully implemented, the new Next Generation system will make it easier to provide additional details about emergency situations, such as video from the scene of an accident and the ability to text 911 when requesting immediate help from police, fire, or ambulance services.

It will also give emergency operators and dispatchers the ability to identify the location of a call using global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, resulting in a safer, faster, and more informed emergency response.

The changeover from the current system to the next generation system comes at a major financial cost to the town, however, and staff has been seeking out quotations and applying for grant opportunities.

The Ontario government has earmarked $208 million to help municipalities transition to Next Generation 911 technology.

Gananoque received $620,000 in the first year, $1,047,528 in the second year, and $491,389 in year three.

The grant is to begin on April 1, 2024 and conclude on March 31, 2025, covering the costs of implementation.