â–ş Listen Live
â–ş Listen Live

9-1-1 Call Taker’s Union calling for more funding amid staffing crisis

“This lifeline is in crisis and has been for quite some time.”

That’s how Emergency Communications Professionals of BC (CUPE8911) President Donald Grant describes the current situation 9-1-1 call takers are in.

“Because of severe underfunding and understaffing in recent years, 9-1-1 operators have seen the service deteriorate as emergency calls take priority over non-emergency calls,” Grant said.

“It has sadly become ‘the new normal’ to see five-minute hold times on emergency lines and hours-long wait on non-emergency lines.”

Grant added it wasn’t until the system was pushed past its limit during the 2021 heat dome that many began to see the dangers of a critically understaffed system.

The firm Price Waterhouse Coopers found that the current roster of 153 full-time call takers needs to increase by 125 to meet operational demands. A more than 80 per cent increase.

“In the last quarter of 2021, E-Comm experienced call volumes that were 22 per cent higher than the year prior,” Grant said.

“By April this year, we had lost another 20 per cent of that team, and an unprecedented 28 per cent are of staff are on leave. Those of us who remain are working more overtime, and more frequently, forced overtime, to meet minimum staffing levels.”

Grant said the problem is a lack of funding.

“Communities of all sizes and varying needs pay into the system, but because many have other priorities, the funding bounces based on need, responding to cyclical catastrophes,” Grant said.

“The other problem is that we are losing some of our most skilled operators to agencies that pay better, sometimes significantly better, or have manageable workloads.”

The union is calling on all levels of government “to make a significant investment to fix this issue for good.”

 

 

Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].

Darin Bain
Darin Bain
Darin is a news reporter for Vista Radio's Prince George stations. His career started in the Cariboo in 2020, working as a News Reporter in both 100 Mile House and Williams Lake before making the move to Prince George in late 2021.

Continue Reading

cjci Now playing play

cirx Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

<p>

- Advertisement -
</p>

Latest News

Darin’s Sports Shorts; Sunday, July 6th

Recap of Saturday's sports.

Surprise visit brings big smiles to boy battling cancer in Quesnel

A young man battling eye cancer received a surprise visit over the Canada Day long weekend by a car club and motorcycle club in Quesnel. Over 50 vehicles from the Prospector’s Car Club and the Dangerous Curves Motorbike Club drove by and filled the dead-end roads near Kellen Harper-Frederiko’s house, with well wishes, toys to give to Kellen, and chances for him to sit in and on cars and bikes.

Some Northern Interior Health Unit services moving next year

Northern Health's Northern Interior Health Unit (NIHU) will be making a move in spring 2026.  According to Northern Health, the current NIHU building will be deconstructed after the move to make space for the tower. 

Traveling with pets? Keep them secured, says ICBC and BC SPCA

ICBC and the BC SPCA are reminding drivers of the importance of keeping four-legged passengers secure this summer. 

Darin’s Sports Shorts; Saturday, July 5th

A recap of yesterday's sports.
- Advertisement -