With work done by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) and SaskTel, Saskatchewan will be the first province to transition all primary 9-1-1 communication centers to the Next Generation 9-1-1 or the NG9-1-1. The move makes Saskatchewan in compliance with the new federal mandate.
"This is the first step of a multi-year, multimillion-dollar project that will pave the way for deploying new technology and modernizing the province's emergency response system," Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Paul Merriman said in a release. "This project will dramatically enhance public safety in Saskatchewan."
Once the project is complete, Saskatchewan's Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) will offer multiple ways for the public to communicate with 9-1-1. In the future, the public will be able to share text messages, video and photos through the 9-1-1 system.
Funding for the project is being provided through the 9-1-1 service fee.
The SPSA and SaskTel will continue to work with secondary PSAPs in the province to ensure their technology is upgraded by the end of March 2025.