New Alberta 911 legislation now in effect

Cellphone customers in Alberta will now pay a 44 cent levy on their monthly cellphone bills starting April 1, 2014, when the Emergency 911 Act came into effect. The money from the new levy will help fund 911 call centres across the province.

The Act will also bring in fines for frivolous 911 calls that abuse the system and it will allow for the creation of province-wide standards for 911 call taking.


The 911 levy is 44 cents, the same as the landline fee, which has been in place for 12 years.  It will be charged on any wireless subscription for a device that can contact 911 such as an active cell phone.
The levy took effect April 1 2014, when the legislation came into force.

A frivolous 911 call is any 911 call deliberately made to waste time or abuse the service.  First time offenders are subject to a $5,000 fine.  Repeat offenders are subject to a $10,000 fine.

Related links:
Strengthening 911 (source)
Emergency 911 Act
Emergency 911 Levy Regulation
Emergency 911 Grants Regulation