Emergency personnel to meet over 911 system

SUMMERSIDE - The Summerside police and firefighters union, along with the Prince Edward Island Police Association, are meeting this morning with the director of the Office of Public Safety.
They're discussing the government's intent for a central 911 dispatch system. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1174, representing Summerside police and fire services, and PEIPA unionized position may in jeopardy under the proposal.
Aaron Campbell, director of the Office of Public Safety, said when the 911 system was established 10 years ago, there were three central dispatch locations: Summerside police, Charlottetown police and the RCMP. The province is now looking to see if a single, centralized dispatch system would meet the needs of Islanders.
CUPE National Representative Bill McKinnon said the union wants some clarification as to just what the province is looking for.
"The only part of the 911 dispatch system the government ... was supposed to be looking to centralize was what is called the call answer/transfer component," McKinnon said. "This is the piece of the 911 system that a citizen will make first contact with and from where the call is transferred to the specific emergency service, fire police or EMS required by the called."
McKinnon said a quick look at the province's Request for Information reveals it is seeking additional information about dispatch services for volunteer fire departments and to include the capability to incorporate police dispatch functions.
"This work is presently done in Summerside by our members of CUPE Local 1174," McKinnon said.
The Office of Public Safety has said the province has no intention of eliminating union positions with the police departments.