Johnson introduces private members’ resolution for 911 investigation
Progressive Conservative MLA Derek Johnson (Interlake-Gimli) is calling on the NDP government to investigate a 911 failure that may have cost RM of Fisher resident Dean Switzer, 55, his life earlier this year and to strengthen the emergency management system to ensure rural and northern Manitobans have access to emergency services.
Johnson said the government has been aware of a number of 911 failures for over a year.
He introduced a private members’ resolution in the legislature on May 22, noting the tragic death of Switzer on March 23 after his wife, Susan, members of his family and friends were repeatedly unable to reach 911 because of a “routing malfunction” that had occurred within a major cellular provider’s network. The tragedy was not an “isolated incident” as there have been prior reports of failed 911 calls from neighbouring municipalities.
“Imagine, Honourable Speaker, the helplessness of performing CPR while dialing 911 again and again, hoping for a ring tone that never comes … 22 unanswered calls. That is the cruel reality that this family endured, and it is a reality that no other family in Manitoba should ever have to experience,” Johnson told the house. “What makes this tragedy even more distressing is that it was not an isolated incident. There have been multiple reports of failed 911 calls in neighbouring municipalities. It’s not about a single error or one tragic event: this is about systemic failure, one that has been known to the provincial government for over a year, and one for which little to nothing has been done.”
Johnson spoke at length, saying emergency services are not a “luxury” or a “matter of convenience,” but a lifeline in times of crises and when every second counts.
Johnson’s resolution asks that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba to “urge the provincial government to investigate and release a report in its entirety regarding the causes of the 911 network failures that contributed to the tragic loss in the Interlake region and commit to working with municipalities, telecommunications providers, and first responders to strengthen 911 reliability so that all Manitobans, including those in rural and northern communities, have uninterrupted access to emergency services.”
The province had announced in April 2024 that it would review 911 services, but a full year later there has been no report, no action and no accountability, said Johnson. And the RM of Fisher has “repeatedly” raised concerns about 911 reliability.
“Rural Manitobans, especially those in areas like the Interlake, continue to face serious challenges accessing emergency services. This is due, in part, to inadequate cellular coverage, gaps in telecommunications infrastructure and a lack of co-ordination between private providers and emergency response systems,” said Johnson. “The 911 dispatch centre in Brandon, which serves rural and northern Manitoba, wasn’t aware that it wasn’t receiving calls for days.”
The ensuing lengthy debate on 911 included condolences from various MLAs to the Switzer family for the loss of Dean and heated exchanges about previous Progressive Conservative and NDP governments having underfunded or made cuts to health care.
NDP MLA Carla Compton (Tuxedo), a former registered nurse, asked why the previous PC government “repeatedly cut funding and privatized emergency services” and also “failed to introduce reliable cell service” to rural Manitoba after holding government for over seven years.
NDP MLA David Pankratz (Waverley), a former paramedic, extended his condolences to the Switzer family and said NDP MLAs are “working closely” with Manitoba’s health minister and other government ministers to address the gutting of EMS staffing and resources.
“As someone who worked rural EMS and stood with families like the Switzers, I just want to say, first of all, I’m so sorry for your loss. It is terrible, absolutely terrible. I’ve been in the room with folks like that in those situations. It is a really challenging situation,” said Pankratz. “I do have to say a big reason why I got involved in politics was because of the callous decisions of the members opposite on emergency services. So it is really disappointing for me to stand here and hear some of the things being put on the record by members opposite. … I would just ask the member opposite: Why did he spend his time in office gutting emergency services across the province?”
