November 10, 2009

Canadian Common Ground Alliance demands national one-call utility locating system

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

As aggressive infrastructure renewal plans begin to unfold across Canada, the need for a national one call utility locate system gains importance, finds the Canadian Common Ground Alliance.

“You have federal and provincial governments pouring billions of dollars into infrastructure renewal and that means opening up congested arteries, roadways and right-of-ways,” explains Frank Zechner, a construction lawyer representing the Canadian Construction Association at the CCGA.

At CCGA’s recent meeting in Regina, Sask., the Alliance stated that a national one call utility locate system, using elements of the 811 system in the U.S., is still within reach in Canada.

The 811 system in the U.S., allows an excavator to dial 811 toll free to get connected to their local statewide one call system.

“The need to get everyone to provide reliable and timely information is just that much greater,” says Zechner. “We do not have the money or luxury to have crews standing idly by waiting for a utilities locates for a telecom project.”

In 2005 the 811 number was designated as the national “Call Before You Dig” number in the U.S., explains Zechner, former executive director of the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association. That same year in Canada the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) reserved 811 for non-urgent medical assistance, though in most regions it is not being used.

The CCGA suggests that 811 can be shared, with all provincial health ministries, resulting in an automated response such as, “You have reached the 811 service, press 1 for non-urgent medical assistance or press 2 for utility locate services”. Reportedly the CRTC will not oppose a shared 811 service.

“If you cannot have it all to yourself maybe you can share it,” says Zechner. “811 is a valuable concept and there are a lot of synergies to be gained if you can tap into the United States. You would be able to piggy back on the media campaign developed in the U.S.”

There is “considerable resistance” from some provincial medical groups to sharing the 811 service, says Zechner. When British Columbia medical authorities were contacted about potentially sharing their 811 number with a utility locate service, they accelerated the launch of the medical-only 811 service.

“A similar reaction is believed to have occurred in Quebec,” explains Zechner. “Notwithstanding initial resistance, the consensus from all provincial Common Ground Alliance groups, including the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance, is to support the project to get 811 operational across Canada.”

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