After a heated debate during the board meeting Wednesday (Dec. 13), the Capital Regional District (CRD) will review establishing a single regional fire dispatch centre B次元官网网址� much to the chagrin of Saanich.

Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen put forward the suggestion the CRD look at the feasibility and hurdles associated with a regional dispatch centre for 911, fire and police.

B次元官网网址淭his is whatB次元官网网址檚 been done in Vancouver, very successfully for quite a number of years now. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no reason I can see why we shouldnB次元官网网址檛 at the very least study the possibility,B次元官网网址� Jensen said. B次元官网网址淚t creates a much higher level of service generally.B次元官网网址�

He said he envisions a state-of-the-art facility such as the E-Comm centre in Vancouver. B次元官网网址淭hey have real time analytics and can handle a high volume of calls,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey do dispatch for about 80 per cent of the province.B次元官网网址�

The timing of his suggestion was twofold. Dispatch for smaller rural communities through Langford is currently under review and Saanich, which provides dispatch to Oak Bay and other communities, recently revisited costs associated with the service, a process that began after a financial review in 2015.

B次元官网网址淚t was is a good opportunity to look at the issue in a wider regional context,B次元官网网址� Jensen said.

already indicated it will shop around once its contract with Saanich expires at the end of March 2018 as Saanich plans to raise its fees by 100 per cent over three years.

Saanich cited concerns during the CRD meeting that theyB次元官网网址檝e B次元官网网址渟unk costsB次元官网网址� into the current call centre, which also serves other communities in the region. The public heard at the Saanich council meeting Monday (Dec. 11), that Saanich has spent about $2.5 million towards its dispatch centre and that the site is scalable if clients leave, or join.

This said, the push for a regional system caused an audible level of frustration among Saanich politicians.

B次元官网网址淪aanich taxpayers have been subsidizing fire dispatch in the region for several years including the cost of the disaster-ready hosting facility which has not been passed onto our client municipalities,B次元官网网址� said Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell.

A new approach might mean losses. B次元官网网址淚f a new regional fire dispatch centre is built at this time, it will duplicate the eComm-based service we now provide,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭his will increase costs for everyone involved.B次元官网网址�

Jensen acknowledged this point. B次元官网网址淥ne of the things we can look at down the road is making some sort of compensation or re-using their equipment,B次元官网网址� he said.

But Atwell sounds unconvinced. B次元官网网址淭he best outcome for local residents of all municipalities is to continue to use the Saanich service until it reaches end of life,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎t that point in time it will may justify consolidating all the facilities into one building.B次元官网网址�

Jensen suggests Victoria and Saanich came up with a plan to create a corporation and hit local governments with a B次元官网网址渢ake-it-or-leave-it approach.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think thatB次元官网网址檚 the best approach to regional cooperation, where two communities dictate to the others,B次元官网网址� Jensen said. B次元官网网址淲e do have an obligation at the CRD table to approach all of the issues with our regional hat on, whatB次元官网网址檚 good for the whole of the community.B次元官网网址�

Atwell said the push for a regional centre B次元官网网址渃omplicatesB次元官网网址� plans for the regional centre. Saanich, he said, has signed an agreement in principle with Victoria to combine its fire dispatch service. Yet Atwell said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps is B次元官网网址渟imultaneously promoting the duplication of infrastructure at CRD that already exists within Saanich.B次元官网网址�

View Royal Mayor David Screech said it makes B次元官网网址減erfect senseB次元官网网址� to move towards a regional model as it would reduce the overall cost to taxpayers.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 something that all of us should be striving to make happen,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he one key benefit would be that if we can get all the region on the same service, we can ensure that that same high level of service is being used for all municipalities and I think thereB次元官网网址檚 also significant cost savings.B次元官网网址�

The CRD board agreed to have staff bring back a report in early 2018 to look at the feasibility of housing fire, police and 911. 

B次元官网网址淧olice have been able to work this out thereB次元官网网址檚 no reason why fire canB次元官网网址檛 do the same,B次元官网网址� Jensen said.

Ain Saanich is set to open in 2019.

While he notes that might require taking into account the current Saanich investments, and costs could certainly go up, there would be discussion and a measure of control and input.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why a regional model is much preferable in my view,B次元官网网址� he said.

Atwell disagrees.