A plan to integrate the separate emergency radio systems for the three Maritime provinces has been scrapped, two years after it was announced.

The plan would have provided a digital upgrade to replace several systems in place for first responders such as police, firefighters and search organizations.

The provinces decided to abandon the plan after evaluating the technical requirements and costs to provide the system, Aaron Campbell, the director of public safety for Prince Edward Island, said Tuesday.

Campbell declined to elaborate on why the two bids to establish the system were rejected.

New Brunswick’s chief information officer said cost was one of the factors behind the decision.

"It would be hard to say that cost isn’t a factor, but it’s one factor in amongst many others," said Christian Couturier.

When it was announced in May 2010, the final cost of the overall project was expected to be more than $100 million.

The provinces would have been eligible for $50 million in funding from Ottawa if capital costs were to exceed $200 million under the federal government’s program to promote public-private partnerships.

When the project was announced, P.E.I.’s public safety minister said it was a necessity.

"It will be a valuable asset to agencies in our province who respond to daily emergencies and disaster situations," Doug Currie said at the time.

"In Prince Edward Island, where our firefighters are 99 per cent volunteers, it will provide them with the same access to a communications tool used by police and emergency medical services personnel."

Campbell said the decision leaves each province with a number of different radio systems, although P.E.I. has an integrated system.

It’s used by some volunteer fire departments, the province’s emergency measures organization and provincial highway safety officers.

Couturier said safety would not be compromised by maintaining the current radio system in New Brunswick, which is a fully integrated system.

"The system is not going to go away, we’re very committed to make sure it’s maintained," he said.

"It’s just not going to transition into this (regional) architecture."

The Nova Scotia government declined an interview request.

Instead, the province’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal sent an email saying it has "full confidence" in the province’s current emergency responder system.