The Province of Ontario’s Municipal Performance Measurement Program (MPMP) was the first mandatory performance measurement program in North America concerned with measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal services and programs. Under the Municipal Act, 2001, MPMP requires municipalities to collect data from readily available sources and submit their results annually to the province by May 31 as part of their Financial Information Return (FIR). The FIR automatically calculates the municipality’s MPMP results, and reports publicly to their local residents by September 30 in a medium of their choosing.
Source: Revenue & Expenditure Analysis & MPMPs; Municipal Study 2010
Our cities, towns and villages in Niagara are protected by a range of fire services that cover heavy industry, light industry, large tourist/commercial sector, heavily traveled highways, Lakes Ontario and Erie, the Niagara River, the Niagara Gorge, a busy rail service and an array of urban and rural homes. All the these components present unique challenges to each fire service that serves our communities.
Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) is the Primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the Region of Niagara. The NRPS Communications Unit is responsible for the initial answering of all 9-1-1 emergency calls. NRPS Communications answers an average of 114,904 9-1-1 calls, and of that an average of 25% of the calls are for fire assistance. In the first 6 months of 2009, 3587 9-1-1 calls were placed which required fire department services (http://www.nrps.com/psb/annualreports/Communications%20and%20Dispatch.pdf).
