911

The NDP critic for Fire and Emergency Services says consumers in the province are paying a monthly 911 fee for every phone account they have. And, George Murphy (MHA, St. John’s East) adds, they are not getting the service they think they are paying for.

It’s been a month since the province’s new 911 service was introduced, and NDP Fire and Emergency Services Critic George Murphy (MHA, St. John’s East) says the reality of the service is falling far short of government promises.

The NDP critic for Fire and Emergency Services says the province’s new 911 system has resulted in two-tiered service. George Murphy (MHA, St. John’s East) says there is a vast difference between a trained 911 dispatcher and a call-taker.

NDP leader Lorraine Michael (MHA, Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi) wants the Premier to make clear to residents of the Northeast Avalon that their plan for the existing 911 service will soon be downgraded to a two-tiered system with the first line of contact being a call centre.

NDP critic for Fire and Emergency Services George Murphy (MHA, St. John’s East) wants to see a whole lot more detail before he puts his seal of approval on government’s latest announcement on Basic 911 services.

NDP Municipal Affairs critic George Murphy (MHA, St. John’s East) says the new 911 system being introduced by government is nowhere near what is needed.

NDP Municipal Affairs Critic George Murphy (MHA, St. John’s East) and MHA Christopher Mitchelmore (The Straits-White Bay North) are happy to see the government finally moving on implementing province-wide 911. Basic 911 is expected to be in place by the end of 2014.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John’s East.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs said in Estimates Committee that he would release the POMAX feasibility study of enhanced 9-11 services at the end of this month. While we are there, Mr. Speaker, we would like to know where the report is

NDP Municipal Affairs Critic George Murphy (MHA, St. John’s East) called attention to the lack of 911 service in large portions of Newfoundland and Labrador, saying the government’s latest announcement of a study is yet another example of its reluctance to deal with the issues of rural residents of the province.