The Committee received the 2024 annual report on Ottawa's 9-1-1 call answer function(link is external). The report detailed that 91 per cent of calls were answered within six seconds. Call volumes decreased for the first time in four years, down 6.6 per cent from 2023, which saw higher call volumes due to a temporary software glitch affecting mobile devices, triggering a surge in accidental 9-1-1 calls during that year.
Residents continue to benefit from the inter-city call transfer service, which allows them to request emergency help for loved ones in other jurisdictions across North America. This service is used 75 to 80 times per month. The City is also making progress on upgrading to the Next Generation 9-1-1 system, which will modernize emergency communications and improve service reliability in the years ahead.