I can't fault you for wanting to keep your home number, Swami, I'd want to do the same thing in your position. I kind of figured NetTalk was a long shot anyway, why I said what I did.
As for the e911 service issue, all you can really do when looking at VoIP providers is to ensure that they meet or exceed CRTC e911 regulation in your situation. I would imagine that so long as they meet that criteria, it shouldn't be an issue, and it's worth pointing out that
VOIP.ms does meet that criteria. If you want more details and the concerns addressed, it might be worth contacting their
support department. (Keep in mind, too, that if you're using Shaw for your phone service, you're likely already using VoIP with e911.) I've always appreciated the necessity for having some reliable method for emergency services dispatch with the phone service, and after years of paying extra for the e911 service through Future Nine ourselves, I finally had occasion not once, but twice to need it a couple weeks back. In the case of them and e911 services meeting FCC requirements in the US at least, I know it works as they connected me to our proper local dispatch office and confirmed the address with me during the call both times.
Speaking of VOIP.ms... they support
Canadian number porting,
unlimited incoming DID rates for all Alberta rate centers are
$5.95 a month before taxes (break-even to the unlimited cost with the $1.99 and 1.49¢ per minute outbound would be about 260 minutes incoming a month), and outbound termination rates are
under 0.52¢ a minute to everywhere but Yukon, Nunavut and the NWT... which is only 1.02¢ a minute. Basically, $4 would buy you over 12.5 hours of
outbound calling a month inside Canada. They also have massive configuration support for
a mess of ATA devices, including the OBi110 and Grandstream HT286.
There's also Fongo's
FreePhoneLine.ca service, but their
911 service clearly isn't up to e911 standards. Also, you get what you pay for, free comes at a price, they nickel and dime you to unlock useful features, etc. etc.
Hope this helps out!
By the way, what part of Alberta you located in if you don't mind me asking? I know some folks in your chunk of the country.