A 911 outage disrupted emergency call routing in parts of Canada early Thursday, September 17, 2026, prompting police agencies and provincial authorities to warn residents that some emergency calls might not connect normally.
The disruption affected parts of Ontario and Quebec, with additional reports involving New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Winnipeg. The available information indicates a routing and telecommunications problem rather than a complete nationwide shutdown of every 911 centre.
Some police services reported that calls were still being received but could be transferred through an unusual route before reaching the correct dispatcher. Other jurisdictions temporarily directed residents who could not reach 911 to use local non-emergency lines or other available ways to contact emergency responders.
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What happened during the 911 outage
Police agencies began reporting intermittent problems during the early-morning hours. The Sûreté du Québec said a technical issue was affecting the transfer of certain calls between 911 centres and its call centres, while municipal police services in the Greater Montreal area also reported disruptions.
Ontario Provincial Police said it had received reports of intermittent 911 service problems in some areas. Police services in Toronto, Waterloo Region and other Ontario communities issued public warnings as the disruption developed.
In Waterloo Region, residents were told to use the police service’s emergency contact number when 911 lines were unavailable. The OPP also identified its 24-hour non-emergency line, 1-888-310-1122, as an alternate contact for people requiring police assistance in OPP-serviced areas.
Nova Scotia issued an emergency alert warning that callers across Canada could experience difficulty reaching 911. The alert advised residents unable to connect to try a landline, Wi-Fi calling or another mobile carrier, and to seek help from nearby police, fire or medical personnel if necessary.
911 service restored in some areas
By Thursday morning, several police services said their 911 connections had returned to normal. Montreal police reported that its service was operational by approximately 4:45 a.m., while other communities also posted restoration updates.
However, the situation was not resolved everywhere at the same time. Police agencies continued to assess the effect of the outage, and some residents were told not to place test calls because unnecessary traffic could further burden emergency communications systems.
The precise technical cause had not been publicly confirmed in the initial updates. Officials and telecommunications providers were continuing to investigate the failure and its effect on call transfers between carriers, public-safety answering points and police communications centres.
What to do if 911 is not connecting
People should call 911 for a genuine police, fire or medical emergency. If the call does not connect, do not assume the emergency has been reported.
- Try again from a landline or a phone using a different mobile carrier.
- Use Wi-Fi calling if it is available and enabled on the device.
- Contact the local police, fire or ambulance service through its published emergency backup number.
- In Ontario areas served by the OPP, call 1-888-310-1122 if 911 cannot be reached.
- Go directly to the nearest police station, fire station, hospital or other emergency facility if it is safe to do so.
- Do not call 911 simply to check whether the system is working.
Residents should rely on instructions from their local police service, provincial emergency-alert system and municipal authorities because alternate numbers vary by community.
Why 911 routing can fail
A 911 call does not travel directly from a phone to a single national call centre. It passes through telecommunications networks and is routed to a public-safety answering point based on the caller’s location and service provider.
A failure affecting carrier infrastructure, call-transfer systems or links between answering points can therefore create different problems in different communities. Some calls may connect normally, some may be delayed or transferred incorrectly, and others may fail to complete.
Bell’s public outage-readiness guidance notes that emergency calling can be affected by network outages and that alternate communications options may be needed. The company also advises customers to keep backup power and to enable available emergency connectivity features.
Investigation and further updates
Police agencies and telecommunications authorities were expected to provide further information as they determined the scope and cause of the incident. The early updates did not establish that the disruption was caused by a cyberattack, and there was no verified evidence in the available public information to support that conclusion.
For now, Canadians should avoid making test calls, keep phones charged, know their local police service’s non-emergency number and follow official alerts if another interruption is reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was 911 completely down across Canada?
No. Reports described intermittent disruptions and call-routing problems in several jurisdictions, while 911 remained operational or was restored in some areas.
What should I do if my 911 call will not connect?
Try a landline, another mobile carrier or Wi-Fi calling, then use the official backup number published by your local police or emergency service.
What is the OPP alternate number if 911 is unavailable?
In areas served by the Ontario Provincial Police, residents can call 1-888-310-1122 for emergency assistance when they cannot reach 911.
Was the 911 outage caused by a cyberattack?
A cyberattack had not been confirmed in the available public updates. Officials were investigating a technical telecommunications and call-routing problem.
Should people call 911 to test whether service has returned?
No. Residents should only call 911 for a genuine emergency and should follow local police instructions for updates or alternate contact methods.
Fact-Checked: Key details were checked against official Ontario Provincial Police and Bell emergency-service guidance, along with current public outage updates from affected jurisdictions. ([dev.opp.ca](https://dev.opp.ca/index.php?id=125&utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: Emergency contact instructions can change quickly during an outage; follow the latest alert from your local police, fire, ambulance or provincial emergency-management authority.