Duncan Council has approved a nine-month contract for police dispatch services from E-Comm 9-1-1 in 2025, and the city will begin negotiations on new contract with E-Comm that would come into effect in 2026.
In the meantime, council has also asked city staff to get detailed financial information on the costs of E-Comm services, and examine additional options with other interested municipalities.
Up until February 2019, emergency calls to the RCMP on Southern Vancouver Island were handled at the Westshore detachment in Langford.
That year, the government approved transferring the service from the Westshore detachment to E-Comm 9-1-1 dispatch services.
The cost of using E-Comm by 10 municipalities on Southern Vancouver Island, including Duncan and North Cowichan, was covered by province up until March 31st of this year.
The municipalities unsuccessfully lobbied the BC government to maintain 100 per cent transitional funding until a review of E-Comm was finished, address the funding inequity between South Island municipalities and other jurisdictions in the province, and create a telecommunications levy to offset 911 dispatch costs and align with funding models in other provinces.
In a report to Duncan council on Friday, it was noted the city will pay approximately $331,480 per year.
This year, the $248,610 cost will be covered using Policing Operating Reserves, but 2026 may require a significant tax increase in Duncan to pay for police dispatch services, unless the city uses reserve funds to help phase in the additional cost.
