Ontario government launches investigation following emergency alert error

The Government of Ontario has “begun a full investigation” into why a false emergency alert was sent out Sunday morning about a nuclear power plant in Pickering.

Ontario’s Solicitor General Sylvia Jones issued a statement Sunday afternoon apologizing to residents who received the alarming push notification to their cellphones.

“There was no incident at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station that should have triggered public notification. Nor was there ever any danger to the public or environment,” she said.

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Jones said it was part of a routine training exercise by the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre. The centre conducts trainings regularly, and there was no intention to notify the public.

Please see my statement in response to the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station emergency alert. There was no incident at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station that should have triggered public notification. Nor was there ever any danger to the public or environment. pic.twitter.com/F9dnQCCWgD

— Sylvia Jones (@SylviaJonesMPP) January 12, 2020

The mass alert that went out around 7:25 am, and Ontario Power Generation and the City of Pickering both confirmed it was in error. 

Emergency Alert