Rural residents demand better phone services

Rural residents in Northeastern Ontario are calling for better phone service after a fire last fall killed a 60-year-old woman.  The October fire took place west of Sturgeon Falls in a rural community known as West Arm.  We’re now hearing that a neighbour called 9-1-1 five times and on three occasions couldn’t get through.  That’s got some homeowners wondering if the victim also tried calling 9-1-1 but wasn’t able to get a connection.  A petition asking for improved phone communications is now in the works, and Marc Serre, the MP for Nickel Belt which West Arm is part of, says he’ll bring it up on Parliament Hill.   John Vanthof, who represents the community at the provincial level, is also aware of the community concerns.