Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to rise today to provide an update to the House on the launch of the territorial-wide 911 system. On November 4th of this year, the new NWT 911 service will enhance our ability to connect residents and visitors with emergency services such as police, fire, and ambulance.
NWT residents and visitors are now able to use the universally recognized number, 911, to access the existing emergency numbers in 33 communities of the Northwest Territories. NWT 911 is fully bilingual in French and English, and callers can be connected with interpretation services for NWT Indigenous and other languages. For callers who have hearing or speech communication impairments, technologies are available to ensure the service is accessible.
Mr. Speaker, the NWT 911 program service includes over-the-phone pre-arrival emergency medical instructions such as basic first aid. I can confirm NWT 911 has already provided life-saving medical care over the phone on a number of calls, including:
- instructions on what to do for a heart attack;
- how to address CPR;
- how to stop the bleeding from a serious wound; and
- telling callers how to administer Narcan for drugs and overdoses.
Mr. Speaker, since the previous government committed to implement 911, a great deal of work and collaboration has gone into making NWT 911 a reality. In 2019 alone, there have been several important milestones, including:
- the establishment of new legislation and regulations;
- the creation of an emergency communications centre;
- meeting with all community governments on emergency response plans;
- the recruitment and training of 911 staff; and
- the launch of a public awareness campaign to inform residents and visitors that 911 is now available in the NWT.
I want to thank all those involved in putting the program in place, especially the community governments, for their commitment to improving public safety and security across the NWT. Now that we have launched 911, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs will continue to monitor this initiative. The Northwest Territories 911 program includes ongoing quality control procedures, such as improvement and program evaluation to ensure the program continues to meet national standards and accreditation.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that NWT 911 is part of an integrated system that includes community dispatch services, first responders, organizations in communities, and volunteers across the territory. I wish to commend all officials and first responders for their work in keeping our residents and visitors safe.
Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to speaking to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight to provide a full briefing and update on the implementation of the NWT 911 program. I will be inviting all Members of the House to the 911 call centre for a tour of the facility.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.