Emergency Alerts and the National Public Alerting System
The National Public Alerting System is a federal, provincial, and territorial system that enables emergency management organizations across Canada to warn the public about imminent or possible dangers such as floods, tornados, fires, and other disasters. The system is also used for Amber Alerts and other urgent bulletins about child abductions when the child is thought to be in grave danger.
Emergency alerts are created and sent by authorized emergency management organizations, such as police departments, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and provincial and territorial bodies.
These potentially life-saving warnings are area-specific (geo-targeted). When an alert is issued, it is broadcast on television and radio and sent to cellphones that are connected to an LTE (long-term evolution) or newer (e.g. 5G) network.
Please consult Emergency management organizations to find those in your province or territory who are authorized to issue emergency alerts.
Each year, cellphone service providers and broadcasters send out two test alerts to ensure that the system is working properly. The first is sent in May during Emergency Preparedness Week. The second is usually sent in November.
On this page
- Can I opt-out of receiving alerts?
- How are alerts sent to my phone?
Alerts on television and radio
Consistent appearance and sound of alerts
Role of the CRTC
The CRTC worked with the Canadian broadcasting industry and government stakeholders to develop the National Public Alerting System. We are responsible for enforcing the regulations that require cellphone service providers, cable and satellite television providers, as well as radio and television broadcasters to distribute emergency alerts.
In addition, the CRTC collaborates with public alerting stakeholders, including Public Safety Canada, to bring improvements to the system.
The following yearly summary statistics that are available on OpenData:
- The number of broadcasting undertakings (AM radio stations, FM radio stations, over-the-air television stations, and cable TV, satellite TV, and IPTV service providers) that have implemented public alerting by category (i.e. region of Canada and service type)
- The number of Canadian mobile subscribers with access to public alerting through wireless service providers by year.
- The number of staff investigations initiated with respect to resolving matters of National Public Alerting system compliance.
Consult Location of Broadcast and Wireless Emergency Alert Distributors to find more information about the location of AM and FM radio stations, over-the-air television stations and subscription-based television service providers.
Alert Ready
More information on the National Public Alerting System is available at AlertReady.ca- (external link).
Alerts on mobile devices
All cellphone service providers are required to distribute emergency alerts to the cellphones connected to their LTE or newer networks. The alerts trigger a unique vibration and use the same tone as for television and radio alerts.
To receive alerts, your cellphone must be:
- compatible with wireless public alerting
- connected to an LTE or newer cellular network at the time the emergency alert is issued
You do not need to enable location services on your cellphone to receive an alert.
Because emergency alert messages are distributed to a specific geographic area, only cellphones in the selected area will receive an emergency alert. This means that, if you travel elsewhere in Canada and an alert is issued for the location you find yourself in at that moment, you will receive the alert, provided you have a compatible cellphone that is connected to an LTE network or newer.
Can I opt-out of receiving alerts?
No. Given the importance of warning the Canadian public of imminent threats to the safety of life and property, it is not possible to opt out of receiving alerts.
The CRTC requires service providers to distribute alerts to all compatible cellphones connected to an LTE or newer network in the area covered by the alert.
Depending on your phone, you may be able to choose how it alerts you. For example, you may be able to adjust the alarm by placing your phone on the lowest volume setting, placing your phone in “Do Not Disturb“ or “Silent Mode,” or by setting your device to vibrate.
Read about our testing of mobile phone response to emergency alerts: Testing the Response of Mobile Telephones to Wireless Public Alerts | CRTC
How are alerts sent to my phone?
Alert messages are sent through a dedicated messaging channel to all cellphones that are compatible and turned on in a designated alerting area. This dedicated channel distributes alert messages without tracking the phone numbers or the physical locations of cellphones.
Alerts on television and radio
When an emergency alert is sent to warn of a potentially life-threatening situation, it is automatically broadcast on TV and radio stations in the selected geographic area. The alert will interrupt regular programming and is accompanied by a unique tone.
Consistent appearance and sound of alerts
To ensure they are easily recognizable anywhere in Canada, the visual appearance, sound, content, and other aspects of emergency alerts are guided by the Common Look and Feel Guidance, which is managed by Senior Officials Responsible for Emergency Management and Public Alerting Working Group. This enables Canadians to be assured of the authenticity of the alerts received on their mobile devices.
Depending on your device, you may be able to choose how your phone alerts you. Read about our testing of mobile phone response to emergency alerts: Testing the Response of Mobile Telephones to Wireless Public Alerts | CRTC
Related Links
- Location of Broadcast and Wireless Emergency Alert Distributors
- Alert Ready
- National Public Alerting System
- Testing the Response of Mobile Phones to Wireless Public Alerts (Report Summary)
- Exploring attitudes towards Wireless Public Alerting System in Canada (Public Opinion Research)
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