NEWS

With one week remaining before the comment period expires on September 16, 2011, the list of supporters for the CCGA's application to the CRTC (to broaden the assignment of the 811 dialing code to include Call Before You Dig services) is approaching 200. Support for joint use of the 811 dialing code is from a wide spectrum of stakeholders - from major pipeline companies transporting hydrocarbons across Canada, to excavators and contractors, to various levels of government - municipal, provincial and federal.

Joint use of the 811 dialing code would significantly simplify access to One Call Services to protect buried utilities prior to ground disturbance, is consistent with the North American Numbering Plan, and will ultimately enhance public, worker and community safety and the integrity of our critical buried infrastructure,

View List of Supporters (current to September 2, 2011)

The CRTC has extended the comment period relative to the CCGA's application to September 16, 2011. Please reivew this important notice from the CCGA for details.

English (Français si-dessous):

If you wish to provide a letter of support for the CCGA's application to the CRTC to broaden the assignment of the 811 dialling code, please download this letter of support template which includes the CRTC file number at the top of the page.

Directions for submitting letter of support:

1. Download the letter of support template highlighted above

2. Date your letter

3. Insert the name of your organization, company or association in the first paragraph and in the last paragraph.

4. We encourage you to tailor the letter to reflect your own message and insert your Organization's standard "about us" paragraph in paragraph # 5 of the letter

5. Submit your letter of support directly to the CRTC (address provided on the letter of support template) and please send a copy to the Canadian Common Ground Alliance via email to: ccga811@canadiancga.com

Thank you!

Français:

Si vous souhaitez soumettre une lettre d’appui relativement à la demande que la CCGA a déposée auprès du CRTC afin d’élargir l’utilisation du 811, veuillez télécharger ce modèle de lettre d'appui qui comporte le numéro de dossier du CRTC en haut de la page.

Voici les directives pour soumettre cette lettre d’appui :

1. Téléchargez le modèle de lettre d’appui mise en évidence ci-dessus.

2. Datez votre lettre.

3. Insérez le nom de votre organisation, entreprise ou association dans le premier et le dernier paragraphe.

4. Nous vous invitons à adapter le texte de la lettre de manière à transmettre votre propre message, puis insérez le paragraphe standard À propos de nous de votre organisation dans le cinquième paragraphe de la lettre.

5. Soumettez votre lettre d’appui directement au CRTC (l'adresse est indiquée dans le modèle de lettre d'appui) en prenant soin d'envoyer une copie par courriel à la Canadian Common Ground Alliance à l'adresse suivante : ccga811@canadiancga.com.

Merci pour votre précieuse collaboration!

 

Nathalie Moreau, Director of l'Alliance pour les infrastructures souterreaines du Québec (Québec CGA), was interviewed this morning on CBC radio 104.7 in Québec City addressing the CCGA's request for joint use of 811.

Click here to listen to the interview.

The Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) submitted an application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) requesting the 3 digit "811" number also be used for the Canadian "Call Before You Dig" program.

La Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) a soumis une demande au Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes (CRTC). Dans sa requête, la CCGA demande à ce que le numéro à trois chiffres « 811 » puisse également être utilisé dans le cadre du programme canadien Appeler avant de creuser.

Click here for the English News Release / Communiqué francaise.

The Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) submitted an application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)  today requesting the 3 digit “811” number also be used for the Canadian “Call Before You Dig” program.

In 2007, the 811 number was assigned by the CRTC to tele-health services in Canada to provide non-emergency health expertise over the phone. The CCGA proposes that the 811 number be also used for “Call Before You Dig” to serve public health in the widest sense.

 

The application is a joint effort among all Common Ground Alliance Regional Partners in Canada and was crafted with the support of the Canadian Gas Association and the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association.

 

To view the CCGA's application, please click here.

 

For more information about the CCGA and its application, please contact:

 

Mike Sullivan

Chair – Canadian Common Ground Alliance

President – Alberta One-Call

Tel:  403.531.3700

Email: msullivan@canadiancga.com

www.canadiancga.com

 

 

A recent article in the Calgary Herald focuses on mandatory damage prevention legislation in Canada.

L'APISQ was in the news earlier this week in Montreal with a story about the cost of damages to buried utilities and the damage prevention efforts of the Alliance pour la protection des infrastructures souterraines du Québec / Québec CGA and Info-Excavation.

On April 21st, 2011, Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey presented his private member's bill, dubbed the “Call Before You Dig” Act, to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Second Reading Debate. It received all-party support and passed unanimously. Click here to see the news release.

Originally presented to the Assembly on April 13, 2011 the next step will be an in-depth review in one of the Assembly’s standing committees before receiving a final third vote. If passed, the legislation will establish Ontario One Call Ltd. as a not-for-profit call centre, a single point-of-contact for all underground utility location services in Ontario.

Bill 180 - An Act Respecting Ontario One Call

MPP Bailey with Jim Douglas of the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance and Paul Rietdyk of Union Gas support Bill 180 - Ontario One Call Act, 2011.

Québec: In collaboration with the Québec CGA (l'Alliance pour la protection des infrastructures souterraines du Québec), Transports Québec recognizes "Safe Digging Month" and the awareness of damage prevention best practices / La Canadian Common Ground Alliance a désigné le mois d’avril comme le Mois de l’excavation sécuritaire. Le Ministère, en collaboration avec l’Alliance pour la protection des infrastructures souterraines du Québec (APISQ), se joint à cet évènement de sensibilisation à de meilleures pratiques pour prévenir les dommages aux infrastructures souterraines.

The Suppliers' Area of the Québec Ministry of Transport website further promotes "Safe Digging Month" / La Zone des fournisseurs sensibilise le mois de l'excavation sécuritaire.

The Municipal page of the Québec Ministry of Transport website recognizes "Safe Digging Month" / Le Ministère de Transports Québec reconnaît mois de l'excavation securitaire.

Ontario: On April 13th, this Private Member's Bill was introduced as Bill 180.Press Release - MPP Bob Bailey - 11-04-13 - Ontario One Call.pdf

Also, please note the reference page on the Ontario Legislature website where information about Bill 180 will be posted, including copies of the legislation, links to debates and an update on its current status.

Video of Bob Bailey introducing Bill 180 in Legislature.

“Bob Bailey wants you to call before you dig” April 1st on City TV with ORCGA members.

Manitoba: The Manitoba Common Ground Alliance (MCGA) proclaims April as "Safe Digging Month".

Saskatchewan: The Government of Saskatchewan declares April as Safe Digging Month across the province, in a co-ordinated effort with Sask 1st Call and the Saskatchewan Common Ground Alliance (SCGA) to increase public awareness on the importance of working safely around underground infrastructure.

Alberta: Alberta Proclamation for Safe Digging Month.

British Columbia: The BCCGA's "Safe Digging Month" banner can be seen on many British Columbia websites promoting safe digging month!

Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) recognizes Safe Digging Month.