WhistleOut fast facts
- A nationwide test of the emergency alert system will impact cell phones, televisions, and radios across the country beginning on Wednesday, May 10.
- National Public Alerting System, or Alert Ready, will test the system.
- The system utilizes eight alert types to warn Canadians of “threat to life” events impacting the country or their province.
- Alert Ready will stagger alerts with different times in each province, starting in May and going through November.
Starting Wednesday, the National Public Alerting System, or Alert Ready, will test the Canadian emergency alert system. The alerts will sound on cell phones, televisions, and radios.
In 2023, Alert Ready will test the system twice in most provinces and territories. The testing allows Alert Ready to prepare Canadians for possible life-threatening events, like wildfires, flash floods, explosions, and amber alerts. Eight different alert types (including a test message) can sound.
Provinces and territories sent over 700 alerts in 2022 relating to tornados, thunderstorms, and civil emergencies. The thunderstorm warning is new and can help residents during severe weather.
The system has received criticism for testing malfunctions and sending out frequent alerts. However, the system is widely used across Canada, and thirteen provinces and territories will participate in this year’s system testing.
You can listen to the Alert Ready tone on their website.Emergency alert testing schedule for 2023
Almost every province is scheduled for two emergency alert tests in 2023. The first Alert Ready test is planned for May, and the second for November. The times are staggered for each province.
Only Alberta and Quebec have different schedules. Alberta already completed its first test in March, and Quebec has yet to schedule its first test. Both will do a second test in November.
| Province/Territory | Date and Time of Test |
|---|---|
| Alberta (first test) | Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. (MST) |
| Alberta (second test) | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. (MST) |
| British Columbia (first test) | Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. (PDT) |
| British Columbia (second test) | Second test possible in November. |
| Manitoba (first test) | Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. (CDT) |
| Manitoba (second test) | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. (CST) |
| New Brunswick (first test) | Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 10:55 a.m. (ADT) |
| New Brunswick (second test) | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 10:55 a.m. (AST) |
| Newfoundland & Labrador (first test) | Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 10:55 a.m. (NDT) |
| Newfoundland & Labrador (second test) | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 10:55 a.m. (NST) |
| Northwest Territories (first test) | Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 9:55 a.m. (MDT) |
| Northwest Territories (second test) | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. (MST) |
| Nova Scotia (first test) | Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. (ADT) |
| Nova Scotia (second test) | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. (AST) |
| Nunavut (first test) | Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. (EDT) |
| Nunavut (second test) | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. (EST) |
| Ontario (first test) | Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 12:55 p.m. (EDT) |
| Ontario (second test) | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 12:55 p.m. (EST) |
| Prince Edward Island (first test) | Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 12:55 p.m. (ADT) |
| Prince Edward Island (second test) | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 12:55 p.m. (AST) |
| Quebec (first test) | No test in May 2023 |
| Quebec (second test) | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. EST |
| Saskatchewan (first test) | Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. (CST) |
| Saskatchewan (second test) | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. (CST) |
| Yukon (first test) | Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. (MST) |
| Yukon (second test) | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 1:55 p.m. (MST) |
Please check your local government website for more information on the specific testing in your province or territory.
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