Paul Davis optimistic 911 deal can be hammered out with St. John's
Premier Paul Davis believes the provincial government and the City of St. John's can reach an agreement on 911 service.
Last week, talks stalled when the city said it wants to control the system's operating budget and its intellectual property if it's expected to be responsible for 911 services on the entire Avalon Peninsula.
After meeting with St. John's Mayor Dennis O'Keefe this week, Davis says he still hopes the St. John's Regional Fire Department will operate a 911 public safety answering point, or PSAP.
"We needed to have two," he said.
"The one in Corner Brook is up and running and we are hoping to be able to do the same thing with St. John's."
Davis said he understands why the city wants to retain control over 911 operations.
"They've got a long history of having a similar type of service for the greater St. John's area," he said.
"We want to expand that for the whole Avalon. I'm confident that we will be able to work through those contract talks."
The new, provincewide 911 emergency phone system was originally supposed to be up and running by the end of last year.
The new target date for its launch is March 1.