Short answer. Alert Ready is Canada's national public alerting system. It sends alerts through television, radio and compatible wireless devices on LTE or 5G networks, with a distinctive tone 1. You cannot opt out of wireless alerts, test alerts included 1. There is no national siren network; sirens exist only locally, for example within 3 km of Ontario's Pickering nuclear station 3.
What is Alert Ready?
Alert Ready is the public face of the National Public Alerting System. It is run with federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pelmorex, broadcasters and wireless providers 1. Officials issue an alert; broadcasters and wireless networks distribute it.
How will an alert reach me?
| Channel | What happens |
|---|---|
| Television | The alert is broadcast 1 |
| Radio | The alert is broadcast 1 |
| Compatible phone on LTE or 5G | The alert appears on screen with the alert tone 1 |
There is no official national alert app: alerts are pushed natively to compatible phones 1. When you hear the tone, pay attention and act right away 1.
Can I turn off emergency alerts on my phone?
No. Wireless public alerts cannot be opted out of, and that includes test alerts 1.
When are the tests?
The CRTC states that there is at least one national test per year, typically in May during Emergency Preparedness Week and/or in November 2. On 6 May 2026 a national test ran in most provinces and territories; there was no test in Quebec, and Ontario's test was rescheduled to 7 May 5.
Are there outdoor sirens in Canada?
Not nationally. Sirens and other warning systems exist around specific sites:
- Pickering, Ontario: sirens within 3 km of the Pickering nuclear station, plus automated phone dialling to all homes within 10 km 3.
- New Brunswick: the Lepreau Emergency Notification System calls by phone within 20 km of the Point Lepreau station 4.
What does an alert tell me to do?
Alerts state the action required. Near Pickering, for example, an alert may tell you to shelter in place, to take potassium iodide (KI) pills, or to evacuate 3. For what each instruction means in practice, read shelter in place or evacuate and our Canada iodine page.
Frequently asked questions
Will my phone receive an Alert Ready message?
It will if it is a compatible wireless device connected to an LTE or 5G network 1. Alerts arrive without an app 1.
Why did my phone sound during a test?
Tests use the same system and cannot be opted out of 1. The CRTC says there is at least one national test a year, usually in May and/or November 2.
Is there a siren I should listen for?
Only in some local areas, such as within 3 km of the Pickering nuclear station in Ontario 3. Elsewhere, rely on Alert Ready on TV, radio and your phone 1.
What should I do right after an alert?
Read the instruction in the alert and act on it right away 13. Keep a battery or wind-up radio in your kit so you can follow updates during a power cut; see our Canada kit page.
Sources
- Alert Ready (Pelmorex Corp. with federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials) — Alert Ready Emergency Alert System — https://www.alertready.ca/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) — Emergency Alerts and the National Public Alerting System — https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/television/services/alert.htm (accessed 2026-10-20)
- City of Pickering — Nuclear Emergencies — https://www.pickering.ca/en/living/NuclearEmergencies.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Government of New Brunswick (NB Emergency Measures Organization) — Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Program — https://www.gnb.ca/en/topic/laws-safety/emergency-preparedness-alerts/nuclear-emergency-preparedness.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Alert Ready (Pelmorex Corp.) — Emergency Alert Test in Canada: Alert Ready to Issue Nationwide Test on May 6, 2026 — https://www.alertready.ca/news/emergency-alert-test-in-canada-alert-ready-to-issue-nationwide-test-on-may-6-2026/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Canada, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Alert Ready (Pelmorex Corp. with federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials) · Alert Ready Emergency Alert System checked 2026-10-20
- Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) · Emergency Alerts and the National Public Alerting System checked 2026-10-20
- City of Pickering · Nuclear Emergencies checked 2026-10-20
- Government of New Brunswick (NB Emergency Measures Organization) · Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Program checked 2026-10-20
- Alert Ready (Pelmorex Corp.) · Emergency Alert Test in Canada: Alert Ready to Issue Nationwide Test on May 6, 2026 checked 2026-10-20