This idea is for folks who would like a backup for their normal Public Mobile service to be able to contact family, friends, etc. In a true emergency no plan is required, just dial 911 from any cell phone.
Currently I use https://www.speakout7eleven.ca for this eventuality. It costs $10 for the SIM plus $25 to activate a pay as you go account for calling and texting. You must top up at least once per 365 days but unused funds roll over. There is an automatic charge of $1.25/month for e911.
When this expires in 4 months I will switch to an even (currently) cheaper idea based on https://www.giffgaff.com. Based in UK they now offer SIMs mailed free to Canada and cost £10 to activate with airtime credit; i.e. as pay as you go (OR better yet private message me and I will order it from my account for a £5 credit 
). In Canada I will be roaming so direct calling at £1/minute would be true desperation. However, their data roaming charge is now "just" 20p/MB; this is roughly the same cost as speakout calling when using the voip app from https://www.fongo.com. (Google Hangouts would also work).
The big advantages to me are:
a) the account balance never expires as long as I send an SMS, or use a MB of data, every 6 months (so about 70¢/year), and
b) I'll be able to use Google maps whenever I am lost without tracking down free wifi.
Speaking of wifi reminds me to suggest to all our western colleagues to find a friend on Shaw internet and begged them to give the password for Shaw Go Wifi. Lots of locations.
