Ontario Extends Funding for Next Generation 9-1-1 Emergency System
$22 million investment to help municipalities modernize emergency communications
Toronto, May 22, 2025 — The Ontario government is extending support for its Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) emergency system rollout with a new $22 million investment aimed at protecting families and improving public safety response times across the province.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner confirmed that the funding will help municipalities and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) that have not yet transitioned to the NG9-1-1 platform. These upgraded systems will allow emergency dispatchers to receive richer and faster information—such as real-time video from the scene and GPS-based caller locations—when Ontarians dial for help.
Every second counts when calling 9-1-1. That’s why, under Premier @Fordnation‘s leadership, our government is ensuring Ontario’s emergency operators have access to state-of-the-art technology to get help where it’s needed most.
We’re investing nearly $22M to extend Next…
— Michael Kerzner (@TeamKerzner) May 22, 2025
“Every second counts when calling 9-1-1,” said Kerzner. “Extending Next Generation 9-1-1 funding for an additional year will support the continued adoption of this life-saving system, resulting in safer communities and a better-protected Ontario.”
The new investment is part of Ontario’s broader $208 million commitment to modernize emergency infrastructure. These upgrades will ensure PSAPs are equipped with secure, digitally enabled telephone and dispatch technologies capable of handling next-generation capabilities, such as text-to-911 and multimedia call support.
Next Generation 9-1-1 will also significantly enhance dispatch accuracy by allowing first responders to pinpoint a caller’s exact location via GPS coordinates, especially critical in rural or densely populated urban areas where address details may be unclear.
Currently, 108 PSAPs across Ontario are responsible for processing emergency calls. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has set March 31, 2027, as the national deadline for all telecommunications networks to be NG9-1-1 compatible. Until the transition is complete, the public can continue using existing 9-1-1 services.
This extension offers municipalities a further opportunity to apply for funding this summer and accelerate their progress in adopting NG9-1-1 infrastructure.
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