CRTC delays to 911 system upgrades put victims of intimate partner violence at risk, advocates say

CRTC delays to 911 system upgrades put victims of intimate partner violence at risk, advocates say

Eighty per cent of people who experienced intimate partner violence in 2019 did not report it to the police, according to a statistical profile on family violence.

The two-year deadline extension for Canada’s upgraded 911 emergency response system is sounding alarm bells among advocates who warn that it is increasing safety risks for individuals experiencing violence at home.

They say the next generation of Canada’s 911 system, known as NG9-1-1, which would allow users to text emergency services rather than call, would offer an additional layer of discretion they believe is crucial for those experiencing intimate partner violence.

Police-reported data show that women are overrepresented a