'Not worth the risk': Yellowknife councillors agree to keep dispatch services in-house

As the Northwest Territories gets ready to roll out a 911 service, Yellowknife councillors say it's imperative local emergency dispatch services remain in-house.

Administration was asked to look into the idea of privatizing the service last December as part of 2017 budget deliberations.

That was around the same time council agreed to hire two new dispatchers at a cost of $124,800 for the current fiscal year.

In a business case prepared by city administration, councillors were given three options for consideration: keep the status quo, have another local agency provide dispatch services or have someone down south take it over.

As it stands, five dispatch personnel and one supervisor handle all calls for fire, ambulance and municipal enforcement in Yellowknife out of the fire hall.

An additional dispatcher will be brought on in July.

On Monday, senior administrative officer Sheila Bassi-Kellett acknowledged it could be risky privatizing the service.

Amongst councillors, there wasn't much debate. They say it's crucial emergency dispatch services are provided by the city.

"I don't think privatizing is worth that risk," said councillor Linda Bussey. "I think people's safety and security is paramount and I think it should stay in-house."

Councillor Shauna Morgan added: "I also support keeping the dispatch in-house given the amount of work and resources that's gone into setting up the dispatch that we have.

"That gives us a wonderful opportunity to further improve and meet national standards. We should pursue that as opposed to turning around and going backwards at this point."

Morgan says it also makes sense to keep dispatch services in-house since the GNWT is looking to contract the city for 911 once it rolls out.

The territorial government announced in February that it hoped to launch the service across the territory within 14 months.