Minister of Municipal Affair Ric McIver (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Canadian Press

Text for help

911 Fees likely to increase in September to pay for emergency system upgrades

Mar 11, 2021 | 7:12 PM

EDMONTON – Albertans could see an increase in the 911 fee on their cellphone bills in September to pay for eventual upgrades to the emergency system that would allow texting for help.

A bill called the Local Measures Act has been introduced in the legislature by Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver.

It deals with both capital spending for municipalities and would modernize the emergency 911 system across the province by 2024.

A 911 fee hike to 95 cents a month from 44 cents would raise about $41 million annually, up from the current $17 million.

The additional money would go toward nine secondary 911 centres in addition to 20 primary ones already funded through the cellphone levy.

The secondary centres would also be regulated by the new legislation.

(The Canadian Press)