Province Donates Radios to Public Safety Volunteers

TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--Province Donates Radios to Public Safety Volunteers

Public safety in Nova Scotia received a boost today, Sept. 19, when the province began donating surplus government radios to volunteers.

At a ceremony in Waverley, the government began handing out the first of more than 300 radios and repeaters to volunteers representing firefighters, amateur radio operators and ground search and rescue specialists.

"The ability to properly communicate is critical in emergency situations, and I'm very pleased that government can help improve public safety in our province," said Tim Olive, minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Act, on behalf of Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "This project provides a real benefit to volunteers across the province and the people they serve."

"These volunteer organizations make up the backbone of the public safety responders for much of Nova Scotia and it's important to do what we can to support and work with them," added Mr. Olive. "We are getting communication assets in the hands of volunteer providers who need them to protect the lives and property of Nova Scotians."

"There has been great co-operation among all the volunteers and the province," said John Craig, president of the Fire Officers Association of Nova Scotia. "We don't usually have a lot of money to spend on communications equipment, so this program was made to order for us. I hope we can do similar things with the province in future."

"We're very happy to be involved in this program," said Charlie Strickland of the N.S. Ground Search and Rescue Association. "More usable radios means our search and rescue capability is strengthened. When that happens, we've got a better chance to save lives."

Members of the Nova Scotia Amateur Radio Association helped ready the equipment for transfer by replacing confidential government frequencies with crystals used by public safety groups. This effort saved taxpayers about $90,000. In exchange, the province gave radio association members surplus repeater equipment and a $7,000 honorarium to cover expenses.

Mr. Olive thanked the radio enthusiasts and said their work was vital to getting the project off the ground.

"All of the volunteer agencies, us included, are an important part of the province's emergency response capability," said Tom Cohoon, president of the N.S. Amateur Radio Association. "This project will leave a great legacy for all of us. This equipment will help us do our jobs more effectively for years to come."

The radios were declared surplus after the province and partners, such as the RCMP, created a new provincewide radio system in 2000-01 called Trunked Mobile Radio.

Users of the donated radios will be able to communicate with all users of the new radio network.

Additionally, in 2000-01, the province gave volunteers more than 900 radios for the new network, worth about $3.5 million.

The government project team responsible for the collection and redistribution of the radios received a bronze medal last October at the national Technology In Government (GTEC) Distinction Awards, which recognizes leadership and excellence in the management of information technology projects in the public sector.