Make *16 available Canada-wide
Petitioners ask the Government to require all telecoms to recognize *16 nationwide so callers can reach the Canadian Coast Guard for water emergencies. The government responds that the CRTC must consult before mandating this and the Coast Guard would continue answering *16 where available.
Why we would sign this petition
- Ensures nationwide access to a single cellphone number (*16) to contact the Coast Guard, reducing regional gaps in water-emergency access.
- Creates a uniform expectation for telecom providers so boaters and coastal residents can rely on the same dialing method across Canada.
- Could speed responses in water emergencies by directing callers quickly to Coast Guard resources, potentially improving safety and saving lives.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Imposes regulatory changes that require CRTC processes and stakeholder consultation, so implementation may be slow or uncertain.
- Telecom companies may face technical, routing or cost challenges to implement mandatory recognition nationwide, raising practical and financial trade-offs.
- Existing emergency channels (VHF channel 16, local numbers) already reach marine services in some areas, so a mandate may duplicate systems or divert resources.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: WHEREAS: The cell phone number known as "*16" is used to contact the Canadian Coast Guard in the event of water-related emergencies; *16 is currently a voluntary offering from telecommunication companies in Canada; and *16 is only available in some regions of Canada. THEREFORE, we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: Expand the *16 number by making it accessible Canada-wide by compelling all telecommunications companies recognize *16 to contact the Canadian Coast Guard in the event of water-related emergencies.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Steven Guilbeault The government would like to thank the petitioners for raising this important issue. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest. The CRTC holds public consultations on telecommunications and broadcasting matters and makes decisions based on the public record. Federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, as well as telecommunications service providers, all play a role in ensuring that Canadians can access emergency services. The CRTC’s role is to regulate the service providers that connect emergency calls to the call centres that dispatch first responders. The CRTC cannot impose an obligation on a service provider without first holding a consultation to allow the public and all other stakeholders to share views and provide evidence. Any interested person may file an application with the CRTC to start a public proceeding, pursuant to Part 1 of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure (SOR/2010-277). Response by the Minister of Fisheries Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Ernie Klassen This is in response to your petition dated June 18, 2025, which calls for all Canadian telecommunications companies to recognize *16 on mobile devices, so that the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is accessible Canada-wide, in the event of water-related emergencies. The CCG provides services that facilitate the safe navigation of vessels in Canadian waters and protect the marine environment. These include: Marine Communications and Traffic Services; Aids to Navigation; Waterways Management; Icebreaking; Search and Rescue; and Marine Environmental and Hazards Response. In many areas across the country, calling *16 on a mobile device will connect you with a CCG Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre or a Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. The availability of the service varies greatly and depends on the cellular service provider of the user and their geographic location. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is the federal regulator for telecommunications providers and would be best positioned to address the request for the expansion of *16. Should the requirement be extended to all telecommunications providers, the CCG will continue to ensure a prompt response to all *16 emergency and distress calls that it receives. To report emergencies or navigational hazards, contact your nearest Marine Communications and Traffic Services centre on VHF channel 16 (156.8 MHZ), MF/HF frequency 2182 kHz/4125 kHz (where available) or *16 on a cellphone (where available). CCG contact information to report a search and rescue incident, marine pollution, or marine safety hazard is also available online: www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/contact/index-eng.html