Canada’s Telecom Watchdog Urges All Telecommunications Service Providers to Ensure Access to 911 Services in Both English and French

• CRTC urges all registered telecommunications service providers (TSPs) in Canada to ensure 911 services are accessible in English and French, following recent incidents of language barriers reported by Canadians during emergencies.
• TSPs are advised to review contracts with emergency third-party call centers promptly to facilitate bilingual communication between 911 callers and operators.
• While bilingual 911 services are not mandatory, TSPs are encouraged to take the request seriously, considering potential life-saving implications.
• Companies operating in Quebec should be aware of broader French language obligations under Quebec’s Charter of the French Language, which includes serving and informing customers in French, with non-compliance risking lawsuits and fines.

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