Canada's public emergency alert system tests failed in Ontario and Quebec
The new National Public Alerting System, publicly branded as Alert Ready, was all set to go off in Eastern Canada on Monday to kick off its testing week, but things didn’t go as planned.
According to Alert Ready, wireless providers were going to send a test alert to every mobile device connected to an LTE network in Ontario and Quebec on Monday, May 7. And while it did send to a few, many didn’t receive the alert.
“We are aware of the technical issues related to the public alerting testing planned today by Alert Ready in Quebec and in Ontario,” said the CRTC. “These tests are conducted to ensure that the alerting system is functional.”
The CRTC continued to say that “the officials responsible for these tests at Emergency management organizations and at Pelmorex are looking into it and we are continuing to monitor the situation.”
1/2 We are aware of the technical issues related to the public alerting testing planned today by #alertready in Quebec and in Ontario. These tests are conducted to ensure that the alerting system is functional.
— CRTCeng (@CRTCeng) May 7, 2018
For those who did receive the alert in Ontario, it looked similar to this.
Alert Ready test went through. If you have an older phone without LTE capabilities it would not have gone through. pic.twitter.com/grexxPPEir
— Emergency Management (@EmergMgt) May 7, 2018
And at the time, while many complained they did not get any alerts on their wireless devices, phone companies let their customers know they are aware of the glitch.
Bell and its partners are investigating why some wireless customers in Ontario did not receive today’s test of the public alerting system on their compatible cell phones.
— Bell (@Bell) May 7, 2018
Wireless Public Alerts update: We have notified the responsible 3rd party regarding the missing notifications in Ontario and Quebec. They are aware and are working on a resolution.
— TELUS Support (@TELUSsupport) May 7, 2018
Update on Wireless Public Alerting: Our team is currently investigating why some users in Ontario did not receive today’s test alert. Thank you for your patience.
— RogersHelps (@RogersHelps) May 7, 2018
The Alert Ready system was developed in partnership with federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, The Weather Network and the broadcasting industry and wireless service providers, to rapidly warn the public of imminent or unfolding hazards to life.
Examples of the types of alerts that are issued through the Alert Ready system include natural disasters like tornados and earthquakes or a civil emergency like Amber Alerts.
The system is still scheduled for the rest of the country this week, with tests planned for BC and AB on Wednesday afternoon.