Dialing up the tension over 911: Province, St. John's at an impasse
Newfoundland and Labrador's justice and public safety minister says talks with the City of St. John's over operation of 911 services on the Avalon Peninsula have ended — without an agreement.
The city currently operates the 911 system for the region, but a new provincewide system will soon be implemented.
The province had hoped St. John's would operate 911 for the whole Avalon Peninsula when it unveils the system later this year.
However, St. John's Mayor Dennis O'Keefe said the city wants more control than the province is willing to give them.
"We need to have control over the operating budget for the system we are operating," he told CBC news.
"The other is control over the ownership of intellectual property."
Offer not accepted
"At this point, it would appear that the city and government may in fact be unable to reach an agreement," she said.
"We've offered to carve out the operating budget to some degree, but apparently that's not acceptable to the city."
Using the RNC
Manning said the province is exploring having police take over the operation of 911 services on the Avalon from the City of St. John's.
"We will be looking at alternative measures," she said.
"So right now I've been in discussions with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, in which case the [RNC] would be taking care of the entire Avalon."