B.C. to invest $150-million to upgrade 911 emergency communications system

The provincial government is providing $150 million to upgrade B.C's 911 emergency communications system.

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Mike Farnworth, says the money will be used to help local governments shift to Next Generation 911.

$90 million will fund technological upgrades at E-Comm, which handles almost all of B.C's 911 calls and the rest of the money will go to the Union of B.C. Municipalities to cover staffing, training and quality assurance costs.

Next Generation 911 is a countrywide emergency communications network that accepts all types of data, including real time texting, and allows call-takers see the location of cellphone callers.