Improving the National Public Alerting System: Responses to online survey
The data presented in this report is auto-generated by Granicus, a public engagement software contracted by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The data contained on this page covers 112 submissions made to an online survey (11 participation to the French survey and 101 to the English survey). The survey was made available on the CRTC Conversations website from July 15, 2025, to November 21, 2025. The HTML report below combined the French survey participation and the English survey participation.
Survey questions
- Should the alerting system send alerts in languages other than French and English, including Indigenous languages?
- If yes, what languages and why?
- Are there barriers to the accessibility of alerts for persons with disabilities?
- If yes, what barriers have you experienced or observed?
- What changes or improvements would make alert systems more accessible to persons with disabilities?
- Have you ever received an alert in the past, please check all that apply:
- If you have never received an alert, this may be because there are technical or other barriers in your area that prevent alerts from being provided. If a mobile application, that could be downloaded on your cellphone, was offered so that you could receive emergency alerts, would you download it?
- How can the CRTC work collaboratively with rural, remote and indigenous communities to identify areas not receiving cellphone alerts and improve the availability of public alerting nationwide?
- How can the CRTC work jointly with other government agencies to best address weaknesses of public alerting for those communities?
- Currently, you should receive two emergency alerts a year, on your TV, radio, and your cellphone, that serve to test the system and to make sure that people are aware of these alerts. Are two tests per year enough?
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
- What are the first 3 digits of your postal code?
Survey results
1. Should the alerting system send alerts in languages other than French and English, including Indigenous languages?
Figure 1
View data
- Yes: 52
- No: 58
2. If yes, what languages and why?
The survey was conducted online using usernames chosen by participants. These usernames have been removed from the results to protect participants' privacy. The responses are presented in their original format: No corrections or translations were made.
| Participant ID | Response |
|---|---|
| Participant 2 | We live in a community that has many french speaking residents, however I do not believe that 2 alerts or 3 alerts in all official languages needs to be sent out. An english with options to have it translated into other languages. |
| Participant 8 | N/A |
| Participant 9 | Alerts that are related to life and limb should include a quick statement to select an option on one's decide (or look up online) to hear a translated version of it in most common languages. Canada is a desired place to travel as well as to live and houses many people from other countries who may not be fluent in English or French. |
| Participant 10 | Although it would be very complicated, I feel like there needs to be an Indigenous representation for northern and remote regions where there is primarily Indigenous populations. |
| Participant 12 | If I were a parent with a missing child, I would not want someone to miss the message because they don’t speak English. |
| Participant 16 | Alerts should be sent in Indigenous languages in areas where Indigenous languages are widely used, such as Cree in Northern Quebec. However, there could be potential challenges with different dialects used and the resources required to ensure alerts are sent out quickly. An alert should be sent with all languages at once to avoid multiple alerts. |
| Participant 20 | In Canada, at least French. |
| Participant 22 | Consider using Microsoft AI language and translation services to augment options for notifications to people from all cultures, but English and French as primary |
| Participant 23 | It should be in all recognized indigenous languages because they are Canadian |
| Participant 24 | Spanish there are a lot of latin people |
| Participant 28 | Indigenous languages from each area that the alert is in. |
| Participant 29 | Philippine, Indian |
| Participant 30 | So everyone is included |
| Participant 31 | We have a lot of people for whom English/French are not their first language. Giving them the ability to opt in to a translated message is important, especially when time is of the essence. |
| Participant 32 | Families connect thru friends of other languages |
| Participant 33 | Ukrainian |
| Participant 35 | Indigenous people were here before foreigners and since they mostly live rural they need to be informed in their own languages |
| Participant 36 | In the North especially Inuk or other more common Indigenous languages - this is part of reconciliation, language is key. |
| Participant 37 | Indigenous - should be recognized as an official language. The issue would be if there is one common indigenous language |
| Participant 40 | Yes and no; more languages would reach a wider set of people who may not be as fluent in the two official languages, but how do you decide which languages to include or not, while also keeping an alert short and to the point? |
| Participant 42 | Lean into Census Canada languages and ensure translation options are empowered by mobile devices default languages, and languages based on demography of other language speakers. Make a genuine effort to work toward Turtle Island Indigenous languages as an option for those that have written capability and fluent speakers left. |
| Participant 44 | Indigenous language, South East Asian dialects, Ukrainian |
| Participant 46 | No because alerts are intrusive and often apply to other areas of the province. They should be short and to the point. Not 5 minutes worth of the same alert going on in a bunch of languages. |
| Participant 47 | All First Nations should be included. Many still speak their language first. |
| Participant 49 | The means of communication should enable to recipient to clearly understand the content of the alerting system. This will ensure that people can take the appropriate safety measures or actions. |
| Participant 51 | More nuanced than a yes/no. Perhaps there should be a 'This is an urgency emergency message which requires your action. Please click to read the full information' listed in the top 10 languages relevant across the Province or area (appreciate it can be complex to narrow down and/or time taken, and how it's listed). Consideration of change should be driven by need of community and approach to disaster risk reduction through early and accessible notification. Not the constraints of the system or immediate budget. (I am an EM practitioner and ex-database manager!) |
| Participant 52 | Any languages that a large number of Canadians speak (determined by StatsCan) |
| Participant 53 | Don't care |
| Participant 54 | to include the indigenous communities |
| Participant 55 | whatever languages are required to meet the target population. we should have the technology and ability to do that in some form by now |
| Participant 56 | AlertPlayer "Made in Canada" already supports receiving and decoding indigenous languages, Providing alerts in languages is a good service, under utilized in Canada |
| Participant 58 | As a person with several barriers, I feel we should have a system in place that is non verbal language and I do not mean sign language. |
| Participant 59 | all major indigenous languages would be useful in areas where those languages are either the majority or heavily used like in the north for example |
| Participant 61 | Even if the "official" languages are only French and English, the primary language of Canadians can be something else. When the system doesn't account for this reality, then the system isn't as effective as it should be. By including as many languages as possible, the system becomes more effective, accessible, and inclusive. |
| Participant 64 | Indigenous languages used in the region where the alert is being issued (or, recognizing that there are many Indigenous languages, a model for how to practicably do this should be explored). This would be in line with calls to action in the National Truth and Reconciliation report to acknowledge the value of and work to (re-)cultivate Indigenous languages and treat Indigenous peoples as equal partners in Confederation, and with reconciliation more generally. It would also mean that more people can be meaningfully alerted to the emergency. |
| Participant 66 | Eng, Fr, Indigenous langs. |
| Participant 68 | Regional specific, including Indigenous languages in the areas where they are normally spoken. |
| Participant 69 | In many places in Canada, primary languages do not include French or English, yet many organizations are bound to include both official languages. An assessment should be completed to determine the language requirements and public expectations across Canada, including Indigenous or other languages. How is a bilingual English/French message perceived in a community whose primary or second language is Cree, or Mandarin? This should be especially noted due to multiple languages limiting SMS to only 300 characters total - what important information is being redacted to meet OL requirements? A strong caveat - the current NAAD system is inadequate to meet the translation needs of alert issuers. There must be a method or tool introduced to permit auto translate in some fashion in order to limit the time dedicated to emergency alert writing. Beyond weather events, every imminent safety threat situation has unique circumstances. Time spent translating an emergency alert from one language to another (whatever priority this takes) can mean increased victim numbers. Within 7 minutes, 6 people were reported as stabbed during the James Smith Cree Nation mass casualty. Can an alert issuer translate a message in less time than this? Should an alert issuer bear this responsibility and potentially have to speak to delays in alerting at a public inquiry or inquest? An alert message should be sent in the primary language spoken in the issuance area as fast as possible to limit casualties and subsequent alert messages can be issued in other languages. |
| Participant 70 | Sign languages so people can interact. |
| Participant 71 | French & English across Canada, First Nation languages where there is a demonstrated significant demand or need for it. For example, in Northern communities, you will have elders who only speak an Indigenous language (i.e. Cree, Inukitut, Inuttiutut, etc). Alerts should not be performative (i.e. alerts in languages that are not used) |
| Participant 73 | Where resources are available, alerts should also be sent in a widely-spoken unofficial language within the geofence of the alert. For example, an alert may be sent in Chinese in Richmond or Punjabi in Surrey. |
| Participant 75 | Languages most spoken in the locality where the alert is being broadcast. For example, in Chinese for Markham/Richmond Hill/Spadina-Fort York. You can look at "City of Toronto Multilingual Information Provisions Policy". Do not translate alerts in languages that most locals don't speak, because that will only make the UX worse and make it hard to read. Don't need to translate the entire alert maybe? Provide a link to view the full alert details in any language. |
| Participant 79 | whatever language the user has selected in the app when the download it to their phone. |
| Participant 80 | Time matters most. I would be concerned that for every additional language being added, we will be adding delay. If possible, allow the agency to send initial message in the most common language in the area, followed by an additional alert with translations. Consider each message to include a link to where AI can provide automatically translation to additional languages, with disclaimers. First and foremost, if there’s an emergency in Charlottetown, does it make sense to delay a message to ensure every translation is ready on first send? |
| Participant 81 | Use whatever languages are common to the region where the alert is being broadcast. |
| Participant 82 | All possible |
| Participant 84 | BC issues government notices in Mandarin and Punjabi, therefore, I think federal notices should be as well. |
| Participant 87 | Indigenous languages |
| Participant 97 | I just think alerts should be for everyone. Just add Links to other languages or something |
| Participant 98 | Sign languages |
| Participant 111 | Déjà qu'il est difficile de déterminer si le message est diffusé en français ou en anglais - Mauvais son, mauvaise élocution... |
| Participant 112 | Oui, sur le principe du "opt in". Pas sur les alertes poussées à la population générale. |
3. Are there barriers to the accessibility of alerts for persons with disabilities?
Figure 2
View data
- Yes: 35
- No: 11
- I don’t know: 64
4. If yes, what barriers have you experienced or observed?
The survey was conducted online using usernames chosen by participants. These usernames have been removed from the results to protect participants' privacy. The responses are presented in their original format: No corrections or translations were made.
| Participant ID | Response |
|---|---|
| Participant 8 | N/A |
| Participant 10 | For visually or hearing-impaired persons, their options are reduced, even if they have alternatives. Individuals with cognitive challenges are not represented. I recognize this is a broad group with a varied ability to understand or interact, but it would be nice to sort something out for these individuals. |
| Participant 11 | The loud sound of the alerts causes great anxiety to people who struggle with anxiety. |
| Participant 12 | I think the system is so important, but as someone with intense PTSD, the alert sounds are incredibly distressing and can have negative implications to my health for upwards of 24 hours. I hardly leave my home so I’m not likely to see anyone. I also have sensory issues and the sound is particularly bad. |
| Participant 17 | For reading the alert, the font is quite small. I’m not sure if that’s adjustable on device or not, but larger text would help the visually impaired. |
| Participant 19 | Hearing and vision difficulties may inhibit use. |
| Participant 22 | yes but this can be easily fixed with Microsoft narration for video and transcription services. |
| Participant 23 | If they don’t have access to a mobile device and in an area that has no power they have zero access to alerts. |
| Participant 30 | If they don’t have access to an iPhone or computer, how do they find out? Radio or TV? Depends on how they communicate with the outside world. |
| Participant 31 | Seniors may not have a cell phone, and TV/Radio not on at all times. In case of critical consider opt in registration for landlines phone automated call. Likely very small population needs this and it can save lives. Alternately allow people access to multiple zones for emergency alerts so they can monitor for friends/family and make a phone call to alert them. |
| Participant 32 | It's new yet for me but ok so far |
| Participant 42 | Most barriers are assumptive barriers by the provincial AHJ limiting their role in alerting. The province of BC selects to only enable BIA by them, and only to TV, radio and cell devices. Outside MetroVancouver and urban areas people occupant lands where cell service doesn’t exist (FN hunting, fishing, ATV’er and campers in the backcountry, etc.), and statistics are steadily on the decline for non-streaming TV/radio services. If the provincial alerting capability does not have translation or accessibility built into it then low requiring assistive support do not get the messages they need. |
| Participant 46 | It all depends on the disability and what resources you have on hand. |
| Participant 47 | Some people do not have smart phones or have the money to access newer phones. Also, people without the use of their hands would be limited to set up something on their phone. We don't all have tech abilities or help from someone. Some people don't even have phones. I saw that people in NWT were struggling to find family that didn't have a phone during an evacuation. The technology has to be more affordable. |
| Participant 49 | I have not experienced any barriers. However, I can see how some people could experience barriers due to age, physical disability, and more. |
| Participant 50 | Age and digital literacy are not considered disabilities but they both fully impact the effective delivery of the alerts. |
| Participant 51 | By default yes, as some people with disabilities will not have English or French as a first language, so back to Q1 & 2. Other than that sight and hearing abilities must be recognized and attempts to address theses made. |
| Participant 53 | Complete inability to disable the system. Amber alerts do not need to be broadcasted at a level where you cannot disable them. The alert is exceptionally jarring for something I have no reason to react to. I am in no danger and I cannot help a kid 5 cities away. As a result, I end up experiencing extreme anxiety for the entire day. My hands are shaking as I type this. I cannot calm down and my heart rate is high. I've heard stories of people slamming through barriers in their car because of this alert. |
| Participant 54 | not everyone can read them, the reader is not catching place names in local dialect |
| Participant 55 | Communications are not always easy to hear, don't always include quality closed captioning or ASL/LSQ. |
| Participant 56 | Im on committees studying this and make changes in our software to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards and beyond |
| Participant 58 | Communication is a big barrier in our home. Global aphasia, dead, frontal Lope, détour Eye Disease, etc. |
| Participant 61 | First of all, there's a lack of ASL. Next, there's no way to review alerts if you close them by mistake, or if you need more time to read them. |
| Participant 62 | The alerts are often hard to understand on TV & Radio. They should be voiced by a real human, and not a robot that cannot pronounce certain words. |
| Participant 63 | I wear hearing aids but receive adequate alerts. |
| Participant 69 | Because alert issuers have to limit message text to 600 characters or less (half or less characters when including multiple languages), this means messages include short-form text which may not be appropriate for user accessibility. |
| Participant 70 | The biggest barrier for me is the sound. The sound sends me into a panic attack. It consists of what may be two tritones a tritone apart oscillating at the rate of hyperventilating. This is the polar opposite to meditation. It is so dissonant and disorienting that I can not understand or read the message because the sound repeats itself in my head for a good ten minutes before I calm down. I am autistic and very sensitive to noise. |
| Participant 74 | Older phones and the loss of analog TV alerts major concern.alerts are not getting to all devices as seen in the past... |
| Participant 82 | How do people without internet or phone receive alerts. |
| Participant 88 | Alert format on mobile devices is not suitable for many with reading challenges or other cognitive barriers: Too much text (especially when alerts are in both languages) No clear emphasis on critical information within text (e.g. using text size, formatting, white space) No way to manage or silence alerts by category or time of day |
| Participant 89 | Cellphone alerts don’t read out messages. |
| Participant 93 | I want silent alerts. A banner or crawler on the TV is enough. A visual alert on my phone is enough. The noise causes panic and anxiety for me. |
| Participant 96 | Blind people can't read them |
| Participant 98 | I am autistic and sound sensitive. The loud noise startles me. It is at a panic rhythm and very dissonant. I get so upset by the sound I can not comprehend the message nor respond to it in a timely manner. |
| Participant 99 | The tests are too often which desensitize people and the alerts (at least in Saskatchewan) cover a huge area and are mostly entirely irrelevant to where I live. |
| Participant 100 | The alert ready sound can induce disabling levels of panic and anxiety in sensitive individuals especially those who experience sound sensitivity as part of their Autism Spectrum Disorder . It can be very difficult for an individual in a state of panic to properly process the information being presented in the alert. |
| Participant 102 | Les alertes durant la nuit cause des crises de panique |
| Participant 103 | Les personnes non voyantes, les personnes mal entendantes, les personnes qui ont de la difficulté à utiliser leur téléphone cellulaire de façon rapide dans un contexte d'urgence, par exemple. |
| Participant 107 | Ne pas bien entendre les avertissements. |
5. What changes or improvements would make alert systems more accessible to persons with disabilities?
The survey was conducted online using usernames chosen by participants. These usernames have been removed from the results to protect participants' privacy. The responses are presented in their original format: No corrections or translations were made.
| Participant ID | Response |
|---|---|
| Participant 2 | NA |
| Participant 5 | People should have the option to choose which language they prefer the alerts to be sent to them in, HOWEVER, alerts should ONLY be sent in the language they choose instead of getting alerts in every language. |
| Participant 8 | Clear and effective pronounciation of words using a higher quality text-to-speech program. Perhaps the usage of AI technologies can assist in that endeavour. Better visibility of text for on-screen alerts on TV. |
| Participant 10 | I have no idea how to improve the system to be honest. |
| Participant 11 | The ability to silence the alert sound or even opt out completely for those who have extreme anxiety. |
| Participant 12 | Options for the alert system. Different sounds or sensory alerts. For example, a flashing screen for those with sound difficulties or the hard of hearing. A gradually rising sound that would be less panic-inducing. Mostly just choice. |
| Participant 13 | Make the alert sound modifiable. I had to put my whole phone on do not disturb because there was a servere thunder storm going thru and the sound causes anxiety. |
| Participant 19 | Seek a specialized channel for those who register for alternative means of notification |
| Participant 22 | include transcription. |
| Participant 23 | Public horns like they have in the Pacific that sound when there is a tsunami |
| Participant 29 | The electronic voice is often hard to understand, with poor pronunciation/mispronunciation |
| Participant 30 | Caregivers should be able to help. |
| Participant 31 | '- |
| Participant 32 | Not sure |
| Participant 37 | Not really sure |
| Participant 39 | It should be available on more devices such as smart home devices like Nest/Google Home and Alexa as it would give other ways for people to see the alert. |
| Participant 40 | I don't know |
| Participant 42 | The BC government absolutely needs to look at Alberta’s emergency alert system and the empowerment model for local authorities to push into AlertReady and on many communication types with translation options built into the platforms rather than built into the messages. |
| Participant 44 | Alerts should be use both visual and audio cues, including reading the entire content of the alert out loud for visually-impaired individuals. Alerts should use plain and accessible language where possible. |
| Participant 46 | An optional text-to-voice option on cell phones. This could also use translator service and be useful to people who don't yet speak any of the official languages. |
| Participant 47 | Create a voice active app instead of requiring someone to load an app, setup the app, filter the app....there are programs that give used cell phones to women's shelters, how about expanding it for those that don't have a phone. Something that they can use to dial 911 and to receive emergency alerts only. |
| Participant 49 | The alert system should be designed/updated to with this in mind. For example, consider adding an audio element to the alert system so that the recipients of the alert can not only ready the alert message, but that they can also hear why they are being alerted. For example, the alert could indicate what type of emergency is in effect "e.g., fire, flooding, danger, and more). |
| Participant 50 | Have a contact, within each community that digital illiterate individuals can access to assist them with getting the app on their mobile device. Many have a device but never use the app store or know how to d/l an app. Maybe the EA app is automatically included as an essential app on each device sold in Canada? |
| Participant 51 | Liaise with appropriate organizations representing this population to explore this, as well as consult with the audience themselves. |
| Participant 53 | Stop violating your services. Broadcast Amber Alerts at the Amber Alert level as it was intended. Start respecting the disabled. Another real suggested change: THINK before doing things like this. Actually consider the results. Amber alerts should be a RINGTONE at best. |
| Participant 55 | I'm writing as a person who is hard of hearing. I rely heavily on closed captioning and lip-reading to understand information shared verbally. In an emergency situation it is critical that communications have a written component, like closed captioning so that we can all receive the intended messages. |
| Participant 56 | There is a study ongoing that CRTC should already be involved with |
| Participant 58 | Colors, church bells, siren etc ... We are 2025 not all people are constantly on the computer |
| Participant 65 | All alerts have the same tones. Identifying different types of alerts with different tones could help improve the delivery for persons with vision-impairment or other disabilities. |
| Participant 67 | Work with cell device providers to improve accessibility to alerts. Encourage development of devices to support emergency alerting for everyone, such as improved weather alert radios which can receive and deliver alerts for all hazards. |
| Participant 70 | Remove the alert sound. The alert sound has no point, it doesn’t add to the message. A blind person could have the message read out on the phone. Simply have the Alert Ready message call the phone using the same regular ringtone or vibration as any other call. Yes, people answer their phone every time it rings or vibrates. Here is a petition I created. (personal information redacted) |
| Participant 74 | To me sure alerts have no barriers by service carriers... |
| Participant 80 | Treat the alert as just that: “hey! Something requires your immediate attention.” Offer links to a web portal where supplementary messages can be added after the initial message: additional languages, visual aids, text to audio, etc. |
| Participant 82 | None |
| Participant 87 | include an audio link to hear the alert, good for those with disabilities and those who are driving or can't read the message |
| Participant 88 | On mobile devices: Allow users to silence alerts by category (e.g. amber alerts) and time of day. Present alerts in only one language of user’s choice. Add visual supports where useful (e.g. map showing relevant area) and to emphasize critical information. Amber alerts should include any attached photos, as well as visuals to help drivers ID the vehicle (e.g. using generated images of the license plate and vehicle appearance). |
| Participant 89 | Any communication device should be able to deliver important messages through audible, readable, and ASL. |
| Participant 93 | Is panic and anxiety a disability? Yes. I want silent alerts. A banner or crawler on the TV is enough. A visual alert on my phone is enough. The noise causes panic and anxiety for me. |
| Participant 95 | Implement the standard properly so that every alert is not sent as a Presidential alert. |
| Participant 96 | An option to opt out |
| Participant 98 | Remove the alert ready alarm sound. It is not needed. People look at their phones. Another reason to remove the sound is it is dangerous for women who are fleeing abuse and have concealed phones. The UK allows an opt out of all alerts for this reason. |
| Participant 99 | Quit testing it all the time. |
| Participant 100 | Change the obnoxious sound that is used to try and get our attention. Instead have a voice say Attention in English and Attention in French. It’s a bilingual word. Repeat the word two or three times before presenting the urgent message. |
| Participant 102 | Permettre aux gens d'activer les notifications silencieuse du systeme en alerte. donc cela ne causerait plus de crise de panique la nuit. |
| Participant 103 | Je ne suis pas certaine mais je crois que les personnes qui travaillent chez vous trouveront un moyen. |
| Participant 107 | Transcrire les informations sur les téléphones et pas seulement les énoncer. |
6. Have you ever received an alert in the past, please check all that apply:
Figure 3
View data
- Yes, through my TV or radio: 61
- Yes, through me cellphone: 101
- No, I have never received emergency alerts: 3
- I don’t know it I have received any emergency alerts: 0
7. If you have never received an alert, this may be because there are technical or other barriers in your area that prevent alerts from being provided. If a mobile application, that could be downloaded on your cellphone, was offered so that you could receive emergency alerts, would you download it?
Figure 4
View data
- Yes: 43
- No: 44
8. How can the CRTC work collaboratively with rural, remote and indigenous communities to identify areas not receiving cellphone alerts and improve the availability of public alerting nationwide?
The survey was conducted online using usernames chosen by participants. These usernames have been removed from the results to protect participants' privacy. The responses are presented in their original format: No corrections or translations were made.
| Participant ID | Response |
|---|---|
| Participant 5 | N/A |
| Participant 7 | First off get it working in the cities, the recent launch with the test alert reached about 50% of people in Edmonton, is it even working now? |
| Participant 8 | Perhaps something similar to an air raid siren but instead of a typical klaxon horn, a loudspeaker can broadcast an audio alert, similar to an alert on the radio. This can be accompanied by some sort of strobe light to further grab attention and to assist people who are hard of hearing. This will aid in them recognizing that an emergency alert is in effect. |
| Participant 10 | I think this is a good start, but I think it needs to be followed up with in person meetings with leadership and communities. |
| Participant 13 | Provide more information how on large the mobile service coverage area is. I have no idea if the fact that a tornado was spotted in my region is even relevant if I have I idea where it could have happened. |
| Participant 16 | I think just that, working with communities to identify areas not receiving cellphone alerts and prioritizing areas for expansion. In the interim, ensuring people know about radio alerts if there is a radio station. |
| Participant 17 | Sign on with a satellite service provider like the one Apple works with to provide emergency communications? Just not Starlink please. |
| Participant 19 | Information sent to elders of indigenous communities to pass on information. |
| Participant 21 | By ensuring that access to cellphones and internet are affordable by Canadians. Which today, especially in the context of persons with disabilities are still significant as the benefits a disabled person receives have been and are approximately 50% below the poverty line in Canada. Disabled Canadians should be able to enjoy all the benefits other Canadians do. |
| Participant 22 | regional council member groups, information sharing with local authorities |
| Participant 23 | As I indicated above the use of public horns or warning sounds when there is a warning create a public warning signal that is not technology based |
| Participant 27 | Actually force the telcos to provide cel/data coverage or, even better, liaise with Starlink to provide coverage given that Canadian network providers clearly have no interest to do so. |
| Participant 28 | Making black out areas of service obsolete. In today’s age of technology we should not have areas of low-no cell phone coverage in main highways, towns or any rural community |
| Participant 29 | Encourage contacting your neighbours during the alert broadcast |
| Participant 30 | I don’t have a mobile. There is no options for #7. I don’t have my radio on all day and I no longer have TV. Is there any way alerts can be put on computers or tablets? |
| Participant 31 | Stats canada for # of people. Compare to # of cell phones. Seniors may not have a cell phone, and TV/Radio not on at all times. In case of critical consider opt in registration for landlines phone automated call. Likely very small population needs this and it can save lives. Alternately allow people access to multiple zones for emergency alerts so they can monitor for friends/family and make a phone call to alert them. |
| Participant 32 | Stay connected thru phone numbers |
| Participant 35 | You need to send people in to warn the communites or throw down flyers from drones, planes or helicopters to warn then |
| Participant 36 | It's not ideal but through actual mail or even visits to counties. |
| Participant 37 | I wasn’t aware there was an issue |
| Participant 39 | Require other types of devices to be able to disseminate alerts such as satellite services and home assistants. Perhaps central devices like speakers or alarms/sirens could be placed in rural locations to alert people. require cellphone providers to place towers in rural communities with a population over 100 in order to support both general connectivity and alerts. |
| Participant 40 | Having an app in addition to the alerts that go out over radio/broadcast/cellular networks would serve communities without cellular connectivity but with satellite internet connections. |
| Participant 42 | By fixing the ineptitude of the provinces they reside in and their faulty alerting awareness. Ensuring the people representing each province in the national alerting program understanding not just the technology of alerting but also the psychology of human behaviour paired with general landscape awareness of where on the landscape traditional alerting options will fail to reach people. |
| Participant 43 | No idea |
| Participant 46 | Work with Canadian providers that partner with Starlink and other low Earth orbit satellite network operators; satellite-to-phone is already here today for text messages with limited coverage but that will expand soon. |
| Participant 47 | Install more cell towers or provide satellite phone access. Create a program where those that don't have phones can have one for emergency purposes. Keep the CBC and use that platform to broadcast emergencies in areas where all they have is CBC. |
| Participant 48 | No idea |
| Participant 49 | Include them through out the design and implementation of alert systems. Beyond consultation, the CRTC should collaborate with Indigenous communities to ensure their needs are fully addressed. |
| Participant 50 | ASK and deliver. I fit within the rural and possibly remote category and first, we are never asked about cellular service which is getting worse and worse and second, if we do complain, it feels like no one is listening. |
| Participant 51 | Work with the appropriate First Nation or local municipality to understand the challenges, then work together to best address them. Involve the community itself from the outset. There will not be a 'one size fits all' solution, so pilot the approach to learn and then incorporate learnings into wider role out. Consider offering grants to communities to add capacity as needed. |
| Participant 53 | Don't. I might move out there. |
| Participant 54 | be able to receive alerts outside of the 4G network. Receiving them when on wireless is important as we have so many places without proper cell service |
| Participant 55 | not sure |
| Participant 56 | Talk to Rob Hopkins about rural emergency alerting with FM Radio as last mile |
| Participant 58 | My first taught would be a siren either from the fire station, ambulance or through church bells. There would be a distinct sound for emergency for those who can hear. Now for people like me it would be unique that I have not figure it out yet. |
| Participant 59 | potentially do a survey asking for area and what could be improved more often |
| Participant 63 | Talk with local contacts in these communities. Allocate funding to implement suggested changes. |
| Participant 65 | Having a mobile application or other methods to receive alerts through social media applications could help. |
| Participant 66 | automated phone call. If they have home internet, 3g/wifi app or desktop app (w/o tracking, ads, commercialization of data or any data unless required for reg and kept to the bare minimum). |
| Participant 67 | Support the expansion of LTE/5G across the country, especially in remote areas. |
| Participant 68 | Engagement, and not presuming the provinces have it under control |
| Participant 69 | There have been multiple instances where emergency alerts do not reach the public in rural or remote areas due to cellular network limitations. This is particularly concerning given police response time is likely lengthier in these situations due to the geographic location and officer distribution. Twice the CRTC has had to mandate the mandatory distribution of emergency alerts by wireless providers and news media. The CRTC should equally mandate the requirement for all regions of Canada to receive adequate and sufficient cellular coverage to be notified of an imminent safety threat situation. The CRTC should also work directly with alert issuers across Canada who specifically issue alerts in rural and remote areas. It is likely they have experience in identifying locations where alert distribution was inadequate for unfolding situations. |
| Participant 70 | Make it optional. Have a free app that can be downloaded. This app could help in Silver, Missing Autistic Person, Vulnerable, and Amber Alerts by having a feature, similar to coyote sightings forms, where people could add sightings and photos of the person on the app. Make it a free, voluntary app that is fully interactive. As a civilian member of Toronto Police Services Missing and Missed Implementation Team, I see the importance of having an interactive app for finding missing persons. |
| Participant 71 | There are many ways to work with FN communities, including reaching out to existing communications organizations, the AFN, First Nation telecom providers, etc. |
| Participant 72 | Nowhere near Brantford Ontario I do not want their alerts |
| Participant 74 | Simply make access to alerts in step with the rural services... |
| Participant 78 | An app is a good idea for rural areas, but perhaps you could work with web advertising providers and social media to provide space for alerts across the Internet. For instance, the adverts on a webpage could briefly flash a warning when one is issued, or ad space on social media. |
| Participant 80 | Require the big providers to offer a minimal service in these areas. |
| Participant 82 | Town Halls |
| Participant 84 | For starters, CRTC could check cellphone coverage in rural areas to see where the dead spots are. The biggest factor in not receiving an alert is being in a dead spot. From there, you'd have to ask them what they need/want. |
| Participant 85 | I would recommend an open API that those communities can leverage to integrate into an emergency system that makes the most sense for them. I can’t begin to imagine the ways that rural communities have worked around these limitations, but I suspect that each of them is unique and probably better qualified to understand their community than I am, and better than a committee in Ottawa. |
| Participant 86 | Not have it. It's more of a nuisance than a useful tool. |
| Participant 87 | automatic feed to tv stations ad radio station, hospital and community tv screen (like in hospital waiting rooms or police station waiting rooms where there is a tv), work with streaming services to display alerts on netflix/appletv/disney+ etc to pop up an alert for those streaming from canada, work with ISPs to be able to push alerts through internet connection too. |
| Participant 88 | Work with manufacturers of mobile devices to integrate optional public alerting at the OS level, on any device connected to the Internet in Canada. Even if a given remote area is not served by cell towers, many residents may still have an internet connection (eg satellite), and thus could receive public alerts such a feature was offered and activated by the user. |
| Participant 89 | Check coverage of cellular networks across the country. |
| Participant 92 | I don’t know |
| Participant 96 | Don't, no one cares, it's just annoying |
| Participant 97 | That's not something for me to decide. |
| Participant 98 | Improve availability by not having the obnoxious sound. People will turn off their TV or radio if it screams at them. |
| Participant 99 | How should I know? |
| Participant 100 | Not sure |
| Participant 101 | Internet based alerts as aloost all communities have access to the internet |
| Participant 103 | Pas mon domaine - il faudrait demander à ceux qui y travaillent et aussi, consulter les communautés rurales, éloignées et autochtones. |
| Participant 105 | Diffusion d'alerte par ondes courtes |
| Participant 107 | Je ne sais pas. |
| Participant 108 | Onde courte C.B A TRAVERS les fréquences des organismes publiques nationales, |
| Participant 109 | n/a |
9. How can the CRTC work jointly with other government agencies to best address weaknesses of public alerting for those communities?
The survey was conducted online using usernames chosen by participants. These usernames have been removed from the results to protect participants' privacy. The responses are presented in their original format: No corrections or translations were made.
| Participant ID | Response |
|---|---|
| Participant 5 | 1) Only send alerts in the language of the receivers' choice rather than sending multiple alerts in different languages 2) Ensure that the alert system is being used properly and not as a tool in custody disputes or as an excuse for an agency to do no actual work. 3) Alerts should only be sent when there's actual information to give instead of with extremely vague information that's meaningless. |
| Participant 7 | When the new launch happened and failed,I tried calling the police to see if they new about it, they blew me off saying it's your cell provider! Wrong answer. |
| Participant 8 | Maybe administration of these alerts by local or even provincial governments would be beneficial. For example, some sort of "office" that can manage sending out the alerts within those communities. Perhaps even integration with emergency service call centres, police services, etc. |
| Participant 17 | Require the telecoms to put in a minimum amount of radio towers for these services to be available, by law. They complain they haven’t got enough money but charge the highest mobile & internet rates globally & have billions to buy out their competitors by “mergers”. They’ve got enough money for it! |
| Participant 19 | Collaborate with others seeking to inform remote communities on other matters. |
| Participant 21 | Ensuring it is politically free as possible and that regardless of government change, the system cannot be reduced in reach or benefit. This can be done by ensuring its funding is legally protected at the Federal level. |
| Participant 22 | regional council member groups, information sharing with local authorities |
| Participant 28 | Collaboration on making coverage accessible. Cell tower placements? |
| Participant 30 | Allow alerts on computers and tablets or sound alarms in areas. |
| Participant 31 | . |
| Participant 32 | Better connection to internet access |
| Participant 35 | You need to send people in to warn the communities ahead of time |
| Participant 36 | Alberta doesn't really like to play nice (which is not what I agree with) so I really don't know |
| Participant 37 | Unsure |
| Participant 39 | talk to the communities as to what they would require. |
| Participant 40 | Creating programs to encourage the growth of cellular networks into rural communities regardless of whether there is financial encouragement for private companies to do so themselves. |
| Participant 42 | I had such a great exposure to alerting in AB. Then moved to BC and now see such provincial government dysfunction and lack of understanding all while trying to control messaging and require local authorities to request the province issue duplicative messages on our behalf. It would be terrific to see select alerting platforms like PEASI/Alertable to have national approval for local alerts to automate into BIA based on the CAP-CP criteria: urgent, certain, sever, AND with very specific limited-editing templates. BC does not allow local authorities to do this like they can in AB. |
| Participant 43 | No idea |
| Participant 46 | Get some funding to make receiving public alerts free of charge using satellite-to-phone technology (for phones that support this) and clear any regulatory obstacles. |
| Participant 47 | Create programs and services in these areas to make sure people have access to phones, cell towers or satellite connections and am/fm radios so alerts can be broadcasted by radio. |
| Participant 48 | No idea |
| Participant 49 | Ensure that there have resources ready to ensure that each stakeholder's role and responsibilities are clearly defined. |
| Participant 50 | Again, ask those government agencies and then deliver. As a user and tester of the alert system, having access to ready made templates would be HUGE. I wear many hats in my rural/remote community. I'm comfortable with issuing an alert, but less comfortable developing the content for that alert. Alberta Emergency Alert had a great tool for creating the wording for the alerts. |
| Participant 51 | As above. |
| Participant 52 | AMBER alerts (at least in Ontario) appear to be using the "presidential alert" level of alerts, which are normally related to immediately threats to personal life such as imminent nuclear attack or natural disaster. This is an inappropriate use of that system, and can lead to alert fatigue where real alerts are disabled or ignored. |
| Participant 53 | Focus on not abusing the system first. |
| Participant 54 | have a standalone app that is ONLY for push alerts for approved emergency providers not that can be purchased for the use of municipal or other alerts. The alerts in this form are lost as some places use it for everything to garbage clearing to road closers, to a council meeting. The app should be reserved only for emergency broadcast or non-broadcast intrusive alerts |
| Participant 56 | be responsive and open, accountable for your actions. Talk to international experts |
| Participant 58 | Work with emergency provider, search and rescue, fireman, etc.. it should not be that hard. |
| Participant 63 | Utilize national alerting group and liaise. |
| Participant 64 | It would help -- for this initiative and for national security in general -- for different levels of government to work jointly to 'map' the full 'supply chain' of telecommunications infrastructure and work towards ensuring that all of Canada has sufficient service for basic community engagement (e.g., receiving emergency alerts, filing taxes and receiving tax notices, engaging in public consultation surveys, receiving local news, etc.) |
| Participant 65 | Assist government agencies to develop standard plans with municipalities and communities to spread awareness and public alerts through local signage, businesses and social media. |
| Participant 66 | They may need direct access to EMO systems due to speed & they are a resource for translations. Depends on the weakness, there are a few. |
| Participant 67 | Work through existing structures SOREM, PAWG, and with industry. |
| Participant 68 | Alerts on radio and TV didn't work for 2-3 years after the system was rolled out in Newfoundland and Labrador, and no one at Pelmorex nor the CRTC checked on the operability of the system in that time. It is frought with challenges, can work or not depending on the circumstances and the day, and I think can primarily be attributed to lack of training at the provincial level. |
| Participant 69 | The National Public Alerting System currently relies on third-party subscription based tools to deliver information from the NAAD system – there is no app or website the public can go to in order to see live alerts across the country. Why is this the case? Why hasn’t a national, subscription-based tool been developed for use across Canada by all levels of government, where Internet access can help feed notifications for public alerts issued in jurisdictions the public signs up for? The benefits to having a tool of this nature far outweighs not having one. Pelmorex currently funds the NAAD system upgrades and maintenance. A significant amount of funds is paid by municipal or rural governments for subscription-based alerting tools that feed into the NAAD system to disseminate public alerts. Because of the lack of an alerting app and website, alert issuers cannot use the significant number of non-broadcast intrusive alerts that currently exist (ex. road closures). If funds were redirected into an all-encompassing NAAD-connected, subscription tool, and governance was implemented for public alerting in Canada to limit third party ‘alerting' vendors, Canada could create a robust emergency management tool that is sufficient for both local and national needs, beyond the scope of imminent safety threats. This alone could help address existing weaknesses of public alerting both in a local community context and beyond. |
| Participant 70 | Make it a voluntary interactive app. Connect with Medic Alert so vulnerable people like myself can choose to voluntarily register themself on the app in case there is an emergency. That way a vulnerable person can send out a local alert themself. This would be a discrete way for a vulnerable woman to protect herself for example. With all of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and LGBTQ people, this is an essential service. I would also suggest working with Toronto Police Services Missing and Missed Implementation Team to develop this new app. I have forwarded this survey to the MMIT. |
| Participant 71 | It is difficult to know how the CRTC can work with other agencies when the agency's organization/ relationships / connections are not evident. The CRTC should be working with multiple levels of governance from regional to provincial, but how that happens is really a question for those working in those agencies - how would a member of public / regular Canadian know? |
| Participant 72 | Alert nowhere near me have a negative on sleep as a work shift work. Ontario is a pretty big place and the alert for brantford Ontario is a waste of my time |
| Participant 74 | Remove barriers and agencies gaps to insure alerts have right of way or priority... |
| Participant 78 | Ensuring alerts aren't watered down to the public by regular amber alerts, so that all alerts get ignored now. |
| Participant 80 | Consider air horns? Sound it when an alert has been issued, people can then turn on their radio or TV, call a friend, etc. It’s an old school method that could probably fit well into a modern alert system. |
| Participant 82 | Determine who decides when to issue an alert. |
| Participant 84 | It is essential that the process for accessing the system for various levels of government and government agencies, such as the RCMP, is quick and seamless. CRTC can ensure that the regulations put in place aren't wrapped up in bureaucracy and red tape. Regular reviews of how effective the system is working would also be a good idea. |
| Participant 86 | Scrap it completely. Use the funding for something that is needed like affordable housing. |
| Participant 87 | ask the people of that community. what would work best for them? really only they would know. |
| Participant 89 | Coordinate with all levels of government in order to broadcast alerts in a quick and timely manner. |
| Participant 92 | I don’t know |
| Participant 96 | Don't care |
| Participant 97 | That's not something for me to decide. |
| Participant 98 | Work with an accessibility committee to remove the obnoxious noise. |
| Participant 99 | I think there should be standardized training on when and how to use the system effectively. It seems like organizations like the RCMP don’t know when to use it! |
| Participant 100 | Not sure |
| Participant 101 | I don't know |
| Participant 103 | Je ne sais pas. |
| Participant 108 | Organismes de la sécurité routières |
10. Currently, you should receive two emergency alerts a year, on your TV, radio, and your cellphone, that serve to test the system and to make sure that people are aware of these alerts. Are two tests per year enough?
Figure 5
View data
- Yes, two tests per year are enough: 59
- No, two tests per year are too many: 29
- No, we need more tests per year: 17
- I don’t know: 8
11. Is there anything else you would like to add?
The survey was conducted online using usernames chosen by participants. These usernames have been removed from the results to protect participants' privacy. The responses are presented in their original format: No corrections or translations were made.
| Participant ID | Response |
|---|---|
| Participant 1 | Please don't use the term 'Mobile coverage area'. We recently got a tornado warning while I was at work (i'm a nurse), and the alert stated 'Mobile coverage area". Well what does that mean to the average joe? Is that all of Saskatchewan or a smaller area. People will not take alerts serious with that language. |
| Participant 2 | I feel that a public service campaign and reminder for citizens to sign up for their local alerting system would be beneficial for the whole. Also does the current system integrate into local alert systems like everbridge. |
| Participant 4 | Please make it possible to silence the alarm sound without dismissing the message. I find the noise incredibly upsetting, and try to silence it immediately, usually by swiping. This means I never get to read whatever information is being disseminated, as the message disappears. So I've been alerted that something is wrong, but I don't know what. |
| Participant 5 | The sound of the alert should start low and gradually get louder so as not to cause people to get so startled that they crash their car or trigger a medical issue. |
| Participant 6 | I bought my phone for personal use. To be used for comunicating between my wife and a few friends, plus our house alarm company. It is not for public warnings or amything else. It is not a public paging system. It is not for amber alerts. Alerts are turned off. And I still manage day to day....like I did before cell phones !!!!! |
| Participant 7 | Why was it implemented when it doesn't work? My household has not received any alerts since it launched(we have different providers in our household) |
| Participant 8 | In the case of Amber Alerts, I believe it would be better if a distinct and more "calm" alert tone is used. The usage of the same alert tone for every single type of emergency and the repeated use of emergency alerts within a short time frame can lead to user "fatigue." In addition, more reasonable geographic areas should be chosen for these alerts. Alerts sent too far from the source can appear cumbersome and "over the top" for some people. |
| Participant 9 | Immediate danger to life NEEDS to be transmitted over the satellite network. With increasing climate disasters such as wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, flooding/tsunami, etc it is imperative that the alerts reach those who could possibly be in the greatest amount of danger. As a personal comment: a large portion of those evacuated from the backcountry during the Jasper Complex fire had satellite devices and no knowledge of the fire, myself included, was VERY close to the fire. A simple wind shift and I would not be here to comment on this. It is UNACCEPTABLE that satellite communication is still a problem as there have been complaints about this for several years. It is a deficiency that needs to be addressed. It might take longer to reach the affected people but it is better to get the message late than not at all. |
| Participant 11 | Please have compassion on those whose anxiety turns the alert into a horrible extremely stressful disruption. |
| Participant 16 | Testing - Two tests per year ensure that if a test is cancelled, there will still be another test that year. It also keeps awareness up about the alerts. I think it is most important to keep the test in May over the Emergency Preparedness Week, as there is usually media about emergency preparedness, and it makes sense to have the test at that time. If desired, the test in November could become optional for provinces if they have already issued alerts to the whole province since the May test. Overall, the May test as part of Emergency Preparedness Week, is the most important; the November test could become optional. |
| Participant 17 | Please make the audio sound start at zero volume & ramp up to its full volume over say, 5 seconds, so it’s not quite so jarring. Many times the alert has gone off in the night when we’re sleeping & it’s painful to be woken by that alert noise. Other times during the day it startles me or my elderly parents, makes us jump, which is unpleasant. If you could soften its startup, that would definitely help. |
| Participant 18 | In question 12, the search isn't working for me. First three letters/number of my postal code are (personal information redacted). |
| Participant 21 | Item 12 below does not function in entering a postal code, for reference the first 3 digits would be (personal information redacted) |
| Participant 22 | I'd like to see the introduction of more searching capability for historical emergency alert. ie once an alert was sent, how do i search info that was sent out (AI SEARCH). Alternatively I'd like to offer my technical recommendations being a tech worker. (personal information redacted) |
| Participant 23 | I will repeat, we need a public warning system in rural areas that is now dependent on technology and cell service |
| Participant 24 | NO thx |
| Participant 26 | Let people opt out of it. I pay for my phone not for alerts. 6 in a day is stupidity |
| Participant 28 | Alerts should be something that can be silenced when needed. |
| Participant 30 | Those of us without mobiles are at a disadvantage. Many people don’t have TV anymore either. Alerts with sounds on computers and tablets would be good. Don’t assume everyone has a mobile! |
| Participant 31 | We need to do a better job of providing active alert updates. I don't mind sitting in my basement for a tornado alert - but an all clear or a confirmation of continuing situation needs to be pushed out. |
| Participant 32 | No |
| Participant 35 | There needs to be explanation how to set the locations on the app. A lot of people don't get alerts cause they don't know how and where to set up the location(s) |
| Participant 37 | No |
| Participant 39 | Municipalities and other levels of government should be required to use the system more. I often see areas deciding to use their own system which takes away from the useful ness of the system. it's also possible that additional training on the capabilities of the system (narrower alert areas and using the minor alert capabilities would help) |
| Participant 40 | The existing warning alerts can be vague and include not enough information. To keep alerts short, more information could be provided by including a link in the alert that would lead to a website with more information on the alert. |
| Participant 42 | 4 tests p/year would be too many. 3 is good. Tests should add extra awareness about the new Canada Early Earthquake Warnings, ECCC weather alerts, and also local alerting systems such as PEASI/Alertable and Voyent Alert to help people understand that after a BIA these systems will re-broadcast and this is considered a success to ensure people receive notifications in the ways they wish to receive them. |
| Participant 43 | No |
| Participant 44 | A quarterly test of emergency alerts would be more helpful, especially as we see an increase in severe weather/climate conditions, an increase in gun violence, and child trafficking. Ensuring the alert system is active, reaches a wide swath of the Canadian population in both rural and urban areas, and is ready to be used in case of emergency is critical. |
| Participant 46 | There should be a website where you can see all alerts issued within the last 24 hours. If you hear the alert alarm tones on the radio but not hear the message (e.g. due to ambient noise) you can just quickly look it up and see if it applies to your situation. |
| Participant 47 | In our house we have two phones. Sometimes we both get the alert, sometimes only one gets the alert. What's the point? If we don't both get the alert and are not together at the time, then its somewhat useless. |
| Participant 48 | For the love of god PLEASE make it so people can OPT OUT of emergency alerts. I genuinely don’t care about any of them. If I’m at risk because I opted out of alerts then that’s on me. I very seriously don’t care about amber alerts either. If I am disrupted by an alert and I happen to see the child that’s missing, I’m not going to call it in specifically because of the alert. It’s annoying and I don’t care. I understand that all of that sounds heartless. A lot of people work shift work and I’m sick of getting woken up because of an alert when I’m trying to sleep in preparation for a night shift. Forcing people to receive alerts that they don’t consent to is wrong. |
| Participant 51 | Use the recent Texas Guadalupe River catastrophic flood to check for lessons learned, if not already. Cells phones are key but tv, radio, local media and social media all play their part. Q12 - won't let me enter my postcode, finds NL and NS options only not BC. (personal information redacted). |
| Participant 52 | Your postal code dropdown doesn't work. It appears to search by the name of your city, despite asking for "first 3 digits" of postal code. And even when searching by city, I don't see my own postal code 3-character prefix showing up. AMBER alerts (at least in Ontario) appear to be using the "presidential alert" level of alerts, which are normally related to immediately threats to personal life such as imminent nuclear attack or natural disaster. This is an inappropriate use of that system, and can lead to alert fatigue where real alerts are disabled or ignored. |
| Participant 53 | A lot of cusses but I'm being nice today. |
| Participant 55 | thank you for doing this consultation and providing so many options to participate! |
| Participant 56 | My work with indigenous language alerting with community radio internationally. RGH (personal information redacted) Can't select my postal code in (personal information redacted) bug in programming |
| Participant 57 | Sometimes it’s unclear how to set up my phone to ensure emergency alerts go through and make a sound |
| Participant 58 | Yes I think the annoying sound for emergency alert should be change. For people with cognitive issues it's very very disturbing |
| Participant 59 | so important: ALERT READY AND THE NPAS NEEDS WIRELESS SEVERITY LEVELS ON MOBILE DEVICES SO USERS CAN CHOOSE WHAT THEY RECIEVE (test, amber, severe, extreme, presidential (rename that) (just like the U.S's WEA system) |
| Participant 62 | Amber alerts sent overnight should not be sent to those with Do Not Disturb active. What is someone sleeping going to do about a missing child 50 km away. People who are awake can receive it, and everyone else once they wake up. Too many alerts are causing fatigue, and soon nobody will care about them |
| Participant 64 | Given an increasingly dangerous geopolitical landscape, a number of governments in other countries have issued guidance to their publics on how to respond to crises (e.g., military threats, natural disasters, etc.) when they are alerted of them. It would be helpful if these types of guidance could be developed and issued in Canada, and integrated (e.g., via a hyperlink to a government site) into the public alerts where appropriate (although obviously we hope those types of alters are rarely, if ever, needed). If appropriate, these links could also be integrated into the test alerts, to help build the public's level of advance preparedness. |
| Participant 67 | Provinces/territories should be able to send a hazard specific alert suitable for their jurisdiction. Encourage industry & streaming services to figure out how to geo locate online users to enable geo-targeted alerts to streaming services on connected devices. Encourage industry to figure out how to geo-target satellite alerting for areas without cell service. Deploy the national alerting app, at no cost to the public. |
| Participant 69 | The National Public Alerting System is currently the only tool available to warn the public of imminent safety threats. The broadcasting license expiry in August 2026 is fast approaching and there is no indication as to whether Pelmorex’s license will be renewed at that time. Given existing Federal Government budgetary constraints, there is concern either the NPAS will not exist, or will simply ‘roll over’ with its current state intact. The NPAS can be so much more than how it exists currently. If the CRTC maintains public alerting under its portfolio, I encourage the advancement of a modernized NPAS that meets the needs of Canadians and alert issuers – speak with alert issuers across Canada and hear the deficiencies and recommendations from those who have been criticized and received complaints. Develop a system that is truly all-encompassing and doesn’t rely on makeshift approaches using third-party private companies. This is the system that warns Canadians of imminent safety threats and it should take priority. |
| Participant 70 | I am autistic and have studied missing persons and autism through the University of Waterloo. I am also a civilian member of Toronto Police Services Missing and Missed Implementation Team. |
| Participant 71 | There are a number of issues with the emergency alerting system including: there is no option to silence or reduce the volume of the alerts - they can be very disruptive and for people with heart issues, anxiety disorders, etc- this can cause disruption of nervous system, etc - so there needs to be something that allows people to adjust the volume; secondly, we get alerts for things that are not happening in the region - for example, I am in Toronto and will get an Amber Alert for Waterloo. I am nowhere near there and have nothing to do with the domestic dispute - more targeted alerting by region is needed; finally, in the North, in First Nation communities that need access to the alerting system for environmental / infrastructure events (flooding, fires, etc) but don't have it - this is a problem - the system is too centralized in Ontario and Quebec (perhaps other provinces as well) -so the alerts come from large, central regions, with no alerts for those that face wildfires or potential dam break, etc. |
| Participant 72 | People work shift work. If we could possibly get the alerts without all the noise. Also if we could turn of brantford Ontario, as I am nowhere near it |
| Participant 73 | The CRTC should push for technology to be improved so that images such as maps or photographs can be transmitted with alerts, especially for alerts on television. Additionally, for wireless alerts, the OPP and other alert issuers should be able to immediately deploy sufficient web server resources such that the websites linked in alerts are not overwhelmed when the alerts are issued. It has been my experience that the website linked in wireless alerts would often be unreachable for 10-15 minutes following the receipt of an alert. |
| Participant 74 | Nil |
| Participant 75 | Please STOP using the Presidential alert level for EVERYTHING. Use the cell broadcast feature as designed please. The urgency of finding a missing child vs. needing to evaluate immediately due to a wildfire are completely different. You cannot expect people to stop their car in the middle of the Highway 401 to start looking for a missing child. But it is totally acceptable to wake up everyone at 4am if there is a real threat to life such as a nuclear accident or impending wildfire! |
| Participant 77 | LET US DISABLE AMBER ALERTS!!!! I DO want to be warned of threats to my safety, I DON'T need to know about a child-custody fight 4 hours away! I disable cell-broadcast completely - missing out on all alerts - because of that stupidity. |
| Participant 78 | I suspect the great many Canadians simply ignore alerts now because most are for geographically irrelevant amber alerts. They should be for dangers to life or extreme situations, as intended. I myself routinely just turn off anytime I receive an alert because it's invariably just another missing person, and I know others do the same. |
| Participant 79 | There should be a 2 step process for receiving an alert: 1. Touch the phone screen to silence the alarm, 2 a button to tap for after the alert has been read. Currently, trying to silence the alarm also clears the message. |
| Participant 80 | My iPhone is always on silent, so I never hear Alert Ready tests. I believe actual alerts will override my Do Not Disturb settings…I hope. |
| Participant 81 | There should be multiple levels of alert for different levels of severity. |
| Participant 82 | Alerts should be sent via all electronic devices bar none. |
| Participant 83 | You need to improve these alerts like other countries have. Currently it is not possible to change any of the settings for government alerts in iOS or Android. I want to be able to chose which levels of alerts I receive, and opt out of Amber alerts and the likes. Also, no Canadian alerts ever make it to wifi-only Apple watches. In the years this service has been in operation, it only ever shows up on my iPhone, and my watch doesn't get anything... THis is a major issue, as the notifications don't ring when your phone is on silent mode, so I have sometimes not seen the alert until hours later, when my phone is put away. This completely defeats the purpose of this system... I've traveled to the US and Japan and received alerts on my iPhone+Watch there! |
| Participant 84 | Governments and police forces need to stop relying solely on Twitter to spread information. Many people have left Twitter due to censorship of left wing political views. |
| Participant 85 | We need to leverage varying alert levels available in the existing US system. Sending all alerts at the “Presidential Level” has caused alert fatigue. An Amber Alert is something I should be able to receive when I am awake and able to assist, but an impending localized disaster should wake me up. |
| Participant 86 | Stop the testing? Allow customization of the alert sound so it doesn't give you a heart attack!!!!! Thankfully I keep my phone on silent because it's just not good that its played at max volume. |
| Participant 87 | it's an invaluable service. thank you for revamping it. |
| Participant 89 | Instead of having operators type out emergency alerts, a selection menu should be created which contains pre-written/audible messages that operators can quickly select and send out. By doing so, alerts can be sent efficiently and quickly. |
| Participant 92 | There is an urgent need for the government of Canada to coordinate with provincial authorities and local law enforcement to develop a National Silver Alert System, which will geographically target mobile devices information regarding missing adults with dementia. Silver Alerts will save lives. |
| Participant 93 | I want silent alerts. A banner or crawler on the TV is enough. A visual alert on my phone is enough. The noise causes panic and anxiety for me. |
| Participant 95 | Please implement the standard fully |
| Participant 96 | You need an option to turn this off, it's really annoying and extremely useless |
| Participant 97 | Nope |
| Participant 98 | I am autistic and sound sensitive. I do not want to be panicking and dysregulated during an emergency, and especially do not want to draw attention to myself to law enforcement as they might mistake my behaviour as “threatening”. |
| Participant 99 | The USA system of the EAS is superior and sounds better than ours. |
| Participant 100 | Please eliminate the obnoxious sound preceding the alert and allow individuals to opt out of the program. |
| Participant 101 | My wife lives with PTSD, and the sudden, extremely loud audio tone of emergency alerts on mobile phones has a significant and prolonged impact on her well-being. The alerts can trigger severe stress responses that last for hours or even days. We fully understand and appreciate the importance of timely emergency notifications. However, unlike in the United States, where users may opt out of certain alerts, Canadian mobile users have no ability to adjust or mitigate the sound. For individuals with PTSD, sensory sensitivities, anxiety disorders, or other medical conditions, this lack of control can be harmful. |
| Participant 104 | Oui, laissez la possibilité aux gens de désactiver les alertes. |
| Participant 107 | Pour les personnes qui ont des pertes auditives et qui ne communiquent pas nécessairement par la langue des signes, il serait très important qu'elles puissent lire les avertissements sur leur téléphone. |
| Participant 108 | Établir un processus plus accessible pour la population, exemple une section Pour afficher et divulguer un enfants disparu ou en danger, sans etre obligée de passer par le processus de dépôt aux corps policiers nationaux, cet étape , REJETE ou Rebute la divulgation de certaines informations qui permettrais de retrouver les individus qui manquent à l'appel...ce service exemple AMBER n'est pas appliqué dans 60% des cas où l'émission de l'alerte aurait permis d'intervenir et retrouver grâce au publique ces personnes |
| Participant 109 | La qualité du message est inadéquate. Je ne peux pas concevoir qu'on est fier d'envoyer des messages qui sont parfois inaudibles. En 2025, même la voix automatisée dans mon logiciel Word est meilleur pour me lire un texte que la voix utilisée par EN ALERTE. Il faut trouver une solution rapidement pour corriger ça ! Ça presse !! Autre point. nous avons parfois des messages qui touchent des communautés qui sont beaucoup trop loin de nous. Je comprends que les gens en auto peuvent se déplacer, mais quand on me parle d'une recherche qui se passe à plus de 3-400 km de chez moi, je ne me sens pas concerner, malheureusement. |
| Participant 110 | Les grandes plateformes de diffusion en continu, comme Netflix, Prime Video et d’autres services similaires, devraient également être intégrées au Système national d’alertes au public (SNAP). Aujourd’hui, une majorité de Canadiens consomment leurs contenus télévisuels et audiovisuels par ces plateformes plutôt que par les chaînes traditionnelles. Limiter la portée du SNAP aux radiodiffuseurs conventionnels et aux fournisseurs de radiodiffusion crée donc une zone aveugle importante dans la diffusion d’alertes d’urgence. En intégrant les services de streaming et même les plateformes de réseaux sociaux — que ce soit à travers une notification à l’écran ou un bandeau temporaire — le gouvernement s’assurerait que les messages d’alerte atteignent efficacement la population, peu importe le mode de consommation média. Dans un contexte où les habitudes de visionnement évoluent rapidement, cette adaptation du SNAP représente une mesure logique, moderne et essentielle à la sécurité publique. |
| Participant 111 | À Gatineau, nous avons droit aux alertes pour l'Ontario et le Québec - Double inconvénient. Le système "s'empare" de mon téléphone pour me transmettre une alerte, mais est-il nécessaire qu'il pousse le volume au maximum? Ce qui peut être assez traumatisant s'il y a plusieurs appareils à proximité. "Sauver des vie" - on ne peut être contre. Mais provoquer des crises cardiaques, c'est pas mieux. |
| Participant 112 | J'habite près de Trois-Rivières. Quand j'écoute le 98,5fm (une radio de Montréal), elle diffuse les alertes (incluant les tests) destinées à l'Ontario, pas celles du Québec (ou, localement, Montréal). Il y a clairement erreur de "dispatch". |
12. What are the first 3 digits of your postal code?
Responses to this question were taken out of the report due to a technical issue and to protect user privacy. This action was taken to ensure compliance with our privacy standards.
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