RURAL EXPANSION OF 9-1-1 SERVICE FOR PRINCE ALBERT

Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing Minister Carol Teichrob today

announced another step toward province-wide 9-1-1 with its expansion

of Enhanced 9-1-1 service to residents of a number of rural

municipalities in the Prince Albert region.



Enhanced 9-1-1 displays a caller's name and location to a trained

call-taking operator at the Prince Albert Public Safety Answering

Point (PSAP) who directs the call to the appropriate emergency service

provider - fire, ambulance or police.



"The government is committed to strengthening our communities,"

Teichrob said. "This important step in the development of

province-wide 9-1-1 service will improve people's sense of security.

Enhanced 9-1-1 service will provide one simple, easy-to-remember phone

number and reduce the need for callers to communicate detailed

information. This is a tremendous benefit to young children, or

anyone in an emergency situation, who may have difficulty describing

their location."



Enhanced 9-1-1 will be available in the rural municipalities of:

Lakeland #521, Paddockwood #520, Canwood # 494, Shellbrook #493,

Buckland #491, Garden River #490, Leask #464, Duck Lake #463, Prince

Albert #461, Birch Hills #460, Kinistino #459, Fish Creek #402,

Blaine Lake #434, St. Louis #431, Invergordon #430 and

Hoodoo #401.



The remainder of the municipalities in the Prince Albert PSAP

region are scheduled to receive Enhanced 9-1-1 service by the

fall of 2000.



"To accomplish this expansion, extensive coordination was

required between the implementation team, SaskTel, health

regions, municipalities and emergency service providers," said

Duane McKay, the Sask911 Implementation Officer for the Prince

Albert PSAP.



To support province-wide 9-1-1, a monthly fee of $1.00 per

residential line, $.50 per individual business line, and $2.40

per business trunk line will be collected by SaskTel from those

residents and businesses receiving the new service. These fees

will incorporate the purchase, installation and maintenance of

Enhanced 9-1-1 equipment and the ongoing operation of the

expanded call-taking service.



-30-

For more information, contact:



Maureen Boyle

Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-5959



Duane McKay

Implementation Officer

Prince Albert PSAP at 306-953-4211



SaskTel at 1-877-726-8595