Ontario emergency alert testing problems surface following Quebec failure

Update 07/05/2018: Alert Ready has provided MobileSyrup with the following statement:

“Alert Ready ran the Ontario test alert across television, radio, and for the first time, compatible wireless devices. The intent of this test is to validate all components of the system before an actual emergency. We understand that some wireless users did not receive the test alert. All Alert Ready partners are working together to identify the cause. We thank everyone for their patience as we investigate and work through the test alert results.”

The CRTC’s public emergency tests in Ontario were experiencing issues today, May 7th.

These are the second tests to be conducted in Canada, following an unsuccessful trial in Quebec earlier this morning. The CRTC confirmed that the issue stemmed from a glitch between emergency management in Quebec and Pelmorex, the company that operates the public alert system.

We thank you all for your patience as the Emergency alert issue in Ontario is being investigated. Ensuring that we avoid these situations is exactly why these tests are performed. More details: https://t.co/4Q0wX1WWQp.

— Koodo (@koodo) May 7, 2018

As of April 6th, all Canadian carriers are required to be able to support the CRTC-mandated wireless public alerting (WPA) system. Through WPA, Canadians will receive notifications of emergency situations, such as fires, flooding, tornadoes and Amber Alerts.

However, while no Quebec residents have received the alert testing, it appears that some Ontarians have gotten the message — albeit inconsistently.

Since 1:55pm ET, when the tests were supposed to be carried, many Ontarians have posted on Twitter that they haven’t actually received any such alert.

So… 1:56 pm & I haven't received an #EmergencyAlert on my cellphone yet. I'm on @Telus. Have you? Just heard the ENDEC alert on @NEWSTALK1010.

— Mark Towhey (@towhey) May 7, 2018

So… did this happen for anyone? https://t.co/yiRdDdQ9tU

— emily jackson (@theemilyjackson) May 7, 2018

no alert for me… #emergencyalert #fail @CRTCeng

— Nick Dixon (@NewsguyNick) May 7, 2018

I’m in Toronto, surrounded by lots of people. Not a peep.

— Susan Clairmont (@susanclairmont) May 7, 2018

Many of MobileSyrup‘s own readers have also reported that they never received any alert, either.

Ontario: Did you receive the emergency text alert? https://t.co/EyAfU6dzSv pic.twitter.com/YU0VMQsUn7

— MobileSyrup (@MobileSyrup) May 7, 2018

It’s still unclear what, exactly, may have caused the issue in Ontario. MobileSyrup has reached out to the CRTC and Pelmorex for comment. This story will be updated with a response.

Tests for the rest of Canada’s remaining provinces and territories are set to take place on Wednesday, May 9th. Hopefully the CRTC and Pelmorex can resolve the issue before then.

Have you received the alert? If so, on which carrier and device? Let us know in the comments.