The province will spend $208 million over three years to enhance the 9-1-1 emergency response system.
There will be significant technology and infrastructure upgrades to support the transition to a new 9-1-1 communications system known as Next Generation 9-1-1.
Once fully implemented, the new system will make it easier to provide additional details about emergency situations, such as video from the scene of an accident. You'll also be able to text 9-1-1 when requesting immediate help from police, fire or ambulance services.
It will also give emergency operators and dispatchers the ability to identify the location of a call using GPS coordinates, resulting in a safer, faster and more informed emergency response.
Municipalities operate a large portion of the 9-1-1 call centres, and have long called for provincial support to help with a smooth transition to Next Generation 9-1-1, which has been mandated by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission to take place by March 4, 2025.
There are 108 public safety answering points across the province of Ontario that receive and process emergency calls.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has directed all phone and cell service companies to update their networks from analog to digital, so they are ready to provide Next Generation 9-1-1 voice and text messaging services.
You will still be able to access 9-1-1 and other emergency communications throughout the transition to Next Generation 9-1-1.
