VANCOUVER – Emergency Communications Professionals of BC, the union that represents over seven hundred 9-1-1 operators, dispatchers, and support staff at E-Comm 9-1-1, welcomes the announcement of a governance, financial, and operational review by the provincial government. 

“We’ve consistently raised the alarm about the systemic issues that have been plaguing BC’s 9-1-1 emergency response system and we’re pleased that the government has taken those concerns seriously and ordered this review,” said CUPE 8911 President Donald Grant.  

For several years the union has publicly shared their concerns around chronic underfunding and understaffing of the current 9-1-1 system and questioned whether the current governance and operations model can keep up with rising demand.  Local governments throughout BC have also raised concerns about the sustainability of the current 9-1-1 system through the Union of B.C. Municipalities. 

“Our members provide this critical service every day, answering over two million calls a year. Too often we see our members working short-staffed with emergency calls waiting on hold. We hope this review will help establish a sustainable 9-1-1 system moving forward that both better supports the workers providing this service and ensures that British Columbians can rely on this service when they need it the most,” adds Grant.