Canadians should be prepared to receive an alert on their cellphones on Wednesday as the ‘Ready for Alert’ system will be tested across most of the country.
In Quebec, the system test is scheduled for 1:55 p.m. At that time, television and radio broadcasts will be interrupted by a message and compatible mobile phones will receive an alert. However, it will be clearly indicated that this is a test and that no emergency situation is in effect.
The “En Alerte” system is used when an emergency situation must be communicated first to the population. It could be an Amber Alert, the presence of an active shooter, or the imminent arrival of a dangerous weather system, for example.
Two tests are usually done each year: one in the spring and one in the fall. Testing not only validates the effectiveness and reliability of the system, but also increases public awareness of the system.
Elsewhere in the country, testing will take place at 12:55 p.m. in Ontario, 10:55 a.m. NST in Newfoundland and Labrador, and 1:55 p.m. AST in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick . There will be no testing in Prince Edward Island.
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