Canada’s new emergency alert system, known as the “National Public Alerting System” or “Alert Ready,” was activated on March 31.
As of that date, all cable and satellite companies, radio stations, over-the-air television stations and video-on-demand services in Canada are required to broadcast or distribute alerts that represent a threat to life or property.
Campus, community and native radio and television broadcasters, as well as radio communication distributors were not required to meet the March 31 deadline. Instead, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is extending their deadline to March 31, 2016.
Operated by Pelmorex Media, Alert Ready was developed in partnership with federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment Canada and the broadcast industry. Alert messages will include messages relating to events like tornadoes, floods, forest fires, industrial disasters and tsunamis.
