The city is looking to the GNWT to support any associated costs with the implementation of a 911 calling service in the territory.
Kerry Penney, the city of Yellowknife's director of policy and communications presents on prospective 911 and access to information legislation, which could see the municipality incurring costs.
“We anticipate or hope that the GNWT will have detailed consultation and include the city of Yellowknife throughout the process,” said Kerry Penney, the city’s director of policy and communications.
The territory is set to put the Northwest Territories 9-1-1 Act through third reading in the coming sitting of the legislative assembly.
There will be a standing committee meeting on a 911 service held in Yellowknife on Jan. 24.
The committee will also discuss the implementation of amendments to Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPP), the Human Resources Act and the Northwest Territories 9-1-1 Act.
The city wants the GNWT to undertake consultation with the city’s dispatch services and fund any associated costs for the transition through the 911 cost recovery fee, said Penney.
Local telecommunications companies are required to collect a cost-recovery fee and remit the fee to the GNWT.
City administration wary of new ATIPP legislation
The city of Yellowknife needs more resources if it is to meet new obligations under proposed changes to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPP), said city administrators during a Jan. 7 meeting.
New legislation would cut down the time requirement to respond to a request, placing additional strain on the city’s staff time, said Kerry Penney, the city’s director of policy and communications.
The city needs more guidance on what changes it would have to make to meet new requirements, said senior administrative officer Sheila Bassi-Kellett.
The city currently falls under federal privacy legislation under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). To meet the more aggressive timelines outlined in ATIPP legislation, the city will need additional resources, said Bassi-Kellett.
The GNWT should support the city of Yellowknife, which is likely to be most heavily impacted by the prospective changes and does not have unique positions assigned to respond to ATIPP requests, she said.
In October, the CBC reported that the city was disinterested in improving access to information policies and rejected offers of help from the territory’s privacy commissioner.
Mayor Rebecca Alty supported attending the GNWT’s meetings on the prospective legislation because the city is already underfunded to the tune of $11-million, she said.
While the GNWT has positions dedicated to responding to ATIPPs, the city “has concerns that if there is an increase in ATIPP requests, (it) won’t be able to meet the timelines or the detailed requirements of the act,” said Penney.
Coun. Julian Morse stated his shared concern about whether the city has resources to respond to new ATIPP legislation, but said it would improve transparency and clarify rules for how the city must respond to those requests.
“I’m quite supportive of municipalities being put under ATIPP,” he said. “Why would we be resistant to the idea of getting recommendations or advice?”
The city has concerns about shortened turn-around and response times and said the duties of the Information and Privacy Commissioner should remain at an arms-length or investigative role, said Penney.