Wait times for calling 911 are increasing: union

Wait times for 911 callers in B.C. have stretched beyond four minutes since the start of September.

The union representing call takers, dispatchers, and operators at the province’s emergency communications agency says these delays are the result of staffing cuts at E-Comm.

“What we have been seeing is that wait times have been getting longer and longer, and throughout this month we have been seeing unacceptable wait times of more than four minutes,” said Emergency Communications Professionals of BC spokesperson Donald Grant.

He warns that delays like these can have life-or-death consequences during emergencies.

“In B.C. right now, there is no legislation requiring your call to be answered immediately and for help to be on the way fast,” he explained in an interview with 1130 NewsRadio.