SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
An Inuvik-based telecommunications company is taking a heavy load on its shoulders, trying to bring 911 services to the North.

Ice Wireless is negotiating with the Government of Yukon to try and bring 911 services to the territory. Cameron Zubko, chief operating officer of the telecommunications company, said they want to work with the GNWT to bring 911 services, at long last, to the NWT as well. - Candace Thomson/NNSL photo illustration

Ice Wireless has been working with the Government of the Yukon to bring territory-wide 911 services to its residents, using its existing 911 triage call centres situated in Romania, and an overflow centre in Sudbury, Ont., which field 13,000 calls per year across Canada and connects clients to local authorities and emergency responders.

Now, the company is planning to reach out to the GNWT, although they haven't yet made a proposal.

"We certainly are interested in talking to the GNWT about 911 services," said Cameron Zubko, chief operation officer for the company. "As for when … I guess the answer would be as promptly as possible."

The company launched 911 services to its customers in the Yukon in November, and in the NWT in January – currently, only Ice Wireless clients can use the service. Zubko said the hope is for clients from all telecommunications companies in the NWT to be able to use Ice Wireless' call centre.

When asked whether it seemed strange that clients in the NWT will be calling out to Ontario or, even stranger, Romania, Zubko said national and international call operators would be just as efficient as local ones.

"That's something that will always be there in a centralized 911 service," Zubko said. "Operators based in Yellowknife wouldn't know the streets in Fort Smith, so the point is to have responsive operators who can direct you to local resources that do know your area.

Zubko added all of the company's operators are certified with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, the world's largest organization for certifying 911 operators.

The finer details, such as whether or not there would be a cost to clients like a monthly surcharge on their phone bills, remains to be seen, Zubko said.

Tom Williams, deputy minister for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), said his department is working with stakeholders such as the RCMP, the NWT Association of Communities and several other GNWT departments to come up with the most viable plan to provide 911 services.

With regards to Ice Wireless' plans, Williams said MACA would consider all proposals brought forth by telecommunications companies, but are focused on the aforementioned planning process.

"Our intent is to build upon that work and consider how we could implement the system on a territory-wide basis, not just for Yellowknife or larger communities," Williams said.

"911 services (are) a big part of a broader system, just a part of it, and certainly it's important we continue our efforts to strengthen our overall emergency preparedness and other aspects of public safety in the NWT."

Williams said during the planning, the department and their partners in the project would have to take into consideration all options regarding funding, ongoing maintenance, infrastructure, and make sure they have the right resources and equipment, as well as determining how to govern the system.

"I think we're looking at a variety of different options, the work we're undertaking now will help inform a decision, and there's a wide range of options that we have to consider to see what's viable for the NWT," Williams said.