Changes will take place in March 2025
The province of Quebec said Monday that by March 2025, people in Quebec will be able to text 911 operators and send them pictures and videos.
Minister of Public Safety Francois Bonnardel said that Quebec will spend $45.5 million over three years to update 36 call centers. This is part of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) larger plan to improve emergency services across the country.
Next-generation 9-1-1 from the CRTC is supposed to make interactions with operators safer, faster, and better informed.
“With a text feature, a woman who is being abused at home and can’t talk could pick up her phone, text 911, and talk without her abuser seeing,” said Bonnardel.
Melpa Kamateros, who works with domestic violence victims for the Shield of Athena, says this is an important step, especially since a study from the University of Sherbrooke found that domestic violence cases went up during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kamateros says that this will just make it easier for more victims to come forward and try to get help. “By doing so, it could make these victims less likely to be hurt.”
She says that how the province promotes the expanded 911 service will determine how helpful it is.
“We want everyone to be able to do this,” she said.
“We also have to make sure that people who don’t speak English or French, have no status, or are the most vulnerable of the most vulnerable can also find out about this service.”
People will also be able to share biomedical information through texting, which will speed up communication with the operator.
“We have to save lives, and the only way to do that is with time,” said Bonnardel.
The changes aren’t likely to happen before March 2025. Until then, people who need emergency help will have to call 911 like they always do.