$425M emergency radio system may be boondoggle, MLA says

A new $425million radio system for police and ambulances in Alberta could be a waste of money, says EdmontonMLASteve Young.

"This large public expenditure may not get as much return on our investment," he said."My concern is that some of the municipalities are going to opt out to develop their own stand alone system."

• Alberta to build emergency radio network

The Alberta FirstResponderRadio Communications System,whichis four years behind schedule and more than $50 million over budget,will allow RCMP, sheriffs andhealth services to communicate with each other, but only orally.

Paramedics and officers need to be able to exchange data such as texts and electronic documents as well, Young said.

That was part of the original plan, butwould end up costingthe province an additional $250 million, saidAlbertaSolicitor General Jonathan Denis.

He said the system can accommodate small packets if data such as text messages.

He believes municipalities will sign on, nonetheless.

"We have never had anybody say from the municipal level that they're not going to buy into Albertafirstresponders," Denissaid."I'm confidentjust the fact that this is a one-stop-shop system which will cover the entire provincereally sells itself."

Young believesthe government needs to domore to ensure everyone uses the system once it's up and running in about two years.