National Emergency Number Association
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ONTARIO 9-1-1 ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES
Wednesday, May 5, 1999 10:00 a.m.
City Hall
Room 205, 808 2nd Street East
Owen Sound, Ontario
A. OPENING & MINUTES
PRESENT :
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jim Fraser – Chair
JudyBroomfield – Vice-Chair
Lorraine Bradbury – Recording Secretary
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Bryan Baxter – AMO – Small UrbanSection
Bruce Herridge – Ontario Association of Police Chiefs
RoonKasperavicius – Ministry of Health
John Molyneaux – OntarioAssociation of Fire Chiefs
Joseph Moore – AMO – Regions Section
Dan VanLondersele – AMO
TECHNICAL ADVISORY PANEL
BrendaHazelwood – Region of Haldimand-Norfolk
Ian MacLeod – OntarioProvincial Police
Teresa Mansfield – Bell Canada
QUORUM
TOTAL VOTING MEMBERS PER CONSTITUTION: 14
TOTAL VOTING MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: 8
QUORUM PRESENT
MINUTES
Moved by John Molyneaux, Seconded by Bryan Baxter;
“That the minutes of the February 3, 1999, meeting be adopted.”
Carried
STATUS OF 9-1-1 IN ONTARIO
T. Mansfield advised that Seguin Township has been cut to PERS ahead ofschedule. The public announcement for this cut over will be May 24th. Inspiteof the ongoing labour dispute, no delays are anticipated with the remaining 1999Provincial cutovers. Areas scheduled for cut over to PERS in 1999 include TheSault North, Renfrew, Sudbury and Peterborough.
TAPAC BULLETINS
No new bulletins.
FINANCIAL
Jim Fraser reported on the current financial status of the Advisory Board.
Opening Bank Balance 84.54
Closing Bank Balance 84.54
Equity Shares Held 100.00
Cash on Hand 0.00
Net Worth 184.54
Moved by B. Herridge, Seconded by J.Molyneaux;
“That the financial report be accepted as provided.”
Carried
CORRESPONDENCE
1. On February 19, 1999, D. VanLondersele wrote the Honourable ChrisHodgson, Chair of Management Board of Cabinet requesting funding for theProvincial 9-1-1 Advisory Board. Mr. Hodgson wrote back stating that he waspleased with the work that the Board was doing and that he would discuss theproposal with appropriate officials and send a reply by April 30, 1999.
Dan VanLondersele reported that no official response had been receivedup to this point but he had spoken with J. Brown and the announcement of fundingwill be coming soon. Committee members were encouraged to share Mr. Hodgson’sletter with elected officials in their municipalities.
2. The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) issued a newsrelease on March 25, 1999, regarding the current problems the wireless issue iscausing with respect to 9-1-1.
J. Moore advised that he has prepared a report for Regional Councilrequesting that they support the statements made by the OACP and also to contactthe CRTC and express their concern over the delay in coming to a resolutionregarding this issue.
J. Molyneaux stated that he had passed the news release to theAssociation of Fire Chiefs for a resolution.
J. Broomfield stated that the news release received a positiveresponse at the CWTA meeting.
3. J. Broomfield had requested Bell Canada to clarify its positionsurrounding 9-1-1 in light of the letter of intent Bell had signed with ExcelGlobal Services to provide operator services. Bell Canada responded that theywill continue to support emergency calling requirements for 9-1-1 calls answeredby Bell Neutral Answer Service with the same level of dedication and commitmentthat are currently in place.
4. J. Broomfield received a letter from the County of Simcoe regardinga resolution that had been passed by their Council. The resolution wasrequesting the Provincial Board solicit the CRTC requiring all telephonecompanies to print the customers service location 9-1-1 address on all telephonebills. Bell informed the committee that they already include on their phonebills a prompt for residents to notify them if their address is incorrect butthey have had problems receiving a response from residents.
Some discussion ensued as to how this problem should be handled. J.Broomfield was directed to send a letter to the County of Simcoe stating thatthe Provincial committee is working with Bell to investigate a solution.
B. Hazelwood commented that part of the problem is the fact that Bellis not verifying addresses when the service is being setup or changed. J.Tottman advised that she will look into this matter.
There was an overall concensus that there is a problem. Bellcommented that residents need to be educated about what address is required forresponse to 9-1-1.
B. BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS
OACP
B. Herridge commented that the news release was quite well received bypublic safety agencies. J. Fraser expressed his thanks to B. Herridge and theOACP for preparing the release.
CWTA Report
J. Broomfield advised that the wireless industry seem to be more proactivenow. She believes the news release gave them a push. There is a meeting inVancouver on May 31, 1999 and J. Broomfield would like to be at the table butfinances are a problem.
D. Van Londersele asked if any of the agencies represented at thetable could provide any finances.
Moved by D. Van Londersel, Seconded by J. Molyneaux;
“That J. Fraser send a letter to Provincial committee membersrequesting their financial support in order that J. Broomfield be able to attendthe meeting in the hopes of forthcoming reimbursement.”
Carried
CRTC REPORT
J. Broomfield advised that Bell Canada has come forward with atechnological solution to the local reseller issue. They will file a tariff atthe end of June.
The C.R.T.C. issued a letter in February stating that the resellersare responsible for ensuring the address is correct.
Some discussion ensued as to whether or not we should be working withother boards to resolve some of these issues. J. Broomfield and B. Hazelwoodwere directed to find out who the contacts on the other boards are and bring alist to the next Provincial meeting. A suggestion was made to get the contactsfrom Bell as they would have representatives on other advisory boards.
J. Broomfield advised the committee that there had been an incidentwhereby a call had been placed to 9-1-1 reporting a crime using a payphone. Thepayphone that was used to place the call was not a Bell payphone (CanadaPayphone Co., Metro Net carrier) and therefore the call could not be traced.Toronto Police issued a news release stating that there were some payphones thatmay be able to be traced if 9-1-1 was called. Metro Net responded that theywere investigating and looking into solutions so that this type of incidentwould not happen again.
The C.R.T.C. issued a release reminding service providers to identifyaddress of local payphones. In the future there could possibly be a penalty onpayphone providers who do not comply.
Moved by D. Baxter, Secondedby D. VanLondersele;
“That J. Fraser and J. Broomfield send a letterto the Association of Municipalities of Ontario regarding the potential problemswith Competitive Payphone and 9-1-1 Service.”
Carried
J. Broomfield was requested to summarize the issues that are beforethe C.R.T.C. and e-mail them to committee members.
The meeting recessed at 12:08 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 12:20 p.m.
9-1-1 USER FEES
B. Baxter advised that the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)gave a commitment last Fall to give more support but things don’t seem to beprogressing. He advised that there are representatives from AMO at the O.A.C.P.Conference and perhaps a brief meeting could be held. T. Voisey, B. Baxter andJ. Fraser to meet with AMO.
9-1-1 Y2K
J. Tottman provided reassurance that Bell is doing everything necessary toensure that all their systems will be fully functional on January 1, 2000.
T. Mansfield informed the committee that Toronto Police had beenselected to do a Y2K test on their PERS platform, which should ensure universalcompliance. A press release will be issued once the tests have been completed.Toronto Police will extend an invitation to committee members to attend testing.
C. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
ADDRESSING/MAPPING
Discussion took place regarding the mandate of thiscommittee in relation specifically to the letter previously discussed from theCounty of Simcoe. A decision was made to refer the letter from the County ofSimcoe to this committee. R. Kasperavicius will touch base with the Ministry ofNatural Resources and then call Brenda Hazelwood who will be working with thecommittee to resolve issues.
OPERATIONS/EQUIPMENT
Nothing new to report at this time.
9-1-1 GUIDE
A decision was made that the publication of the guide would be deferreduntil the committee’s financial situation had been determined.
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PROMOTION
J. Fraser asked J. Molyneaux if the committee could put out an announcementregarding the addressing issue. J. Molyneaux stated that perhaps a genericstatement could be prepared and sent to the municipalities for them todistribute.
B. Herridge commented that perhaps a video could be prepared and sentto conferences, cable companies, ratepayers meeting, etc. The committee willinvestigate and bring back a report. Bell Canada kindly volunteered T.Mansfield to assist whenever she could.
TRAINING
J. Fraser advised that he attended a training session in Brampton earlierthis year “Train the Trainer”. He reported that there are now 17certified APCO instructors.
CELLULAR/WIRELESS
J. Broomfield informed the committee that an Ontario 9-1-1 call ended up inDetroit. One male died of a heart attack. In an effort to divert some of theresponsibility a comment was made by representatives of Bell Mobility that the9-1-1 calltakers could have done a better job.
SPECIAL NEEDS
Nothing to report at this time.
D.. NEW BUSINESS
B. Baxter advised that he had received a call from the C.B.C. Morning Show. They were interested in talking to a member of the Provincial Advisory Board. Asuggestion was made for them to contact Rob Browning, Sudbury or BrendaHazelwood.
E. ADJOURNMENT
Next meeting: 12:00 Noon AUGUST 24, 1999
WESTIN HARBOUR CASTLEHOTEL
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Moved by J. Moore, Seconded by B.Baxter;
“That the meeting be adjourned 12:46 p.m.
Carried
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