A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed between the Provinces of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia authorizing all three jurisdictions to explore the development of a Maritime-wide mobile radio communications system that will benefit citizens across the region.
Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour for Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick’s Supply and Services Minister Jack Keir, and Nova Scotia’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Murray K. Scott signed the pact.
“I am pleased to work with my counterparts in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to formalize our partnership and explore federal funding for this initiative,” said Prince Edward Island Minister Carolyn Bertram. “A Maritime-wide Public Safety Radio System would not only benefit our province as we explore options to replace the mobile radio and pager system currently in use, it will increase efficiency and enable us to provide seamless emergency communications among our three neighbouring provinces.”
“By forming this partnership, we are taking a team approach toward exploring a new and modern mobile radio communications system for the Maritimes,” Minister Keir said. “There is great potential in this agreement to share specialized infrastructure, to reduce our costs and to create a seamless, integrated system that strengthens and improves our ability to respond to emergency situations in each province and across the region. Our collaborative approach also demonstrates to the federal government that this is a significant initiative worthy of funding support from Ottawa.”
Currently, each of the Provinces operates an independent mobile radio communications system and all are actively involved in renewing those systems for their respective emergency response organizations.
“Nova Scotia is a leader in the development of radio communications systems for first responders, and we’re pleased to join New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island to explore the feasibility of a Maritime-wide system,” said Minister Murray Scott. “A shared system would have many benefits, including helping to ensure our first responders can continue to communicate, even when they cross Maritime borders.”
The MOU signifies a tri-province partnership has been formed to explore a common solution for mobile radio communications for the Maritimes. This partnership may include collaborating on its procurement, and sharing the cost and operation of a next generation, inter-provincial system that will lead to greater efficiencies and better safety. The provinces will also work together in exploring federal funding to support the initiative.
The MOU became effective August 31, 2008 and will remain in place for a four-year term.
Under the joint agreement, a working group, made up of one representative from each province, will consult with stakeholders and develop a plan to bring the project forward to government. The goal is to have a Maritime-wide mobile communication system in place in 2011. The multi-million dollar project is expected to help thousands of public safety and public works staff and personnel in delivering emergency services in the field.
The MOU was spurred by the Maritime Premiers which issued a decision at the Council of Atlantic Premiers in May 2008, directing their officials to explore the development of the new communications system.