Canada to test emergency alert system on TVs, radios, phones on Wednesday
If your phone suddenly rings out with a loud emergency alert, don’t be alarmed — Canada is simply conducting a test on Wednesday.
Alert Ready is an emergency alert system created to deliver “critical and potentially life-saving alerts to Canadians.” Alerts go out through TVs, radio, and any LTE-connected and compatible wireless devices.
“On Nov. 19, a national test of the Alert Ready system is taking place,” reads the website.
These are only issued by authorized government agencies, and a post on X states that regular testing is essential to make sure that “the system is operating as intended in case of a life-threatening situation, such as a tornado, fire, or AMBER alert.”
A nationwide test of the #AlertReady system will take place Wednesday over television, radio and compatible wireless devices.
Here’s everything you need to know to prepare 👇 pic.twitter.com/zDYp61ZFwx
— Alert Ready (@AlertReady) November 17, 2025
So far in 2025, the system has issued 896 emergency alerts. The majority of alerts in Ontario, B.C., and Quebec were due to tornadoes, while in Alberta, it was mostly due to wildfires.
Wonderfolio/Shutterstock
The scheduled test will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the following times:
- Alberta – 1:55 p.m. MST
- B.C. — 1:55 p.m. PST
- Manitoba — 1:55 p.m. CST
- New Brunswick — 10:55 a.m. AST
- Newfoundland & Labrador — 10:45 a.m. NST
- Northwest Territories — 1:55 p.m. MST
- Nova Scotia — 1:55 p.m. AST
- Nunavut — 2 p.m. EST
- Ontario — 12:55 p.m. EST
- Prince Edward Island — 12:55 p.m. AST
- Quebec — 1:55 p.m. EST
- Saskatchewan — 1:55 p.m. CST
- Yukon — 1:55 p.m. YST
The Alert Tone has a distinct sound, which you can listen to on Alert Ready’s website. Depending on your device’s capability, other formats may be issued for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or partially sighted.
The alert you receive will notify you that it’s a test. You might be required to acknowledge that you received the notification before your wireless device can function normally. However, if you can’t acknowledge it, the sound and vibration will continue for eight seconds. Additional reminders may occur.