Keep VHF weather broadcasts

AI summary

Petitioners ask to keep VHF weather broadcasts and prevent their cancellation for rural and remote Canadians. The government responds it will discontinue VHF and deliver alerts via modern platforms and the national public alerting system.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the House of Commons WHEREAS - In a world where information is power, access to weather updates is not merely a convenience-it's a necessity; - Weather forecasts play a critical role in our daily planning and safety preparations. In times of severe weather, getting accurate and timely data is essential for knowing when to evacuate, when to secure property, and ultimately, how to protect our lives and the lives of our loved ones; - For those of us who live or work in areas with limited or no cell service, the Very High Frequency (VHF) weather broadcast has been an indispensable tool; - VHF radios are often the only reliable source of real-time weather updates in remote locations, ensuring that we are always prepared for sudden weather changes; - Cancelling this service would leave countless individuals vulnerable, stripping them of one of the few resources they have to stay informed and safe; - Eliminating VHF weather broadcasts would exacerbate risks, particularly for rural areas where alternative communication means are unavailable or unreliable; - This decision to cancel the VHF weather broadcast feels reckless and shortsighted; - While technology advances and communication methods evolve, the need for traditional, reliable, and widespread emergency communication channels remains crucial; and - Instead of dismantling these lifelines, we should be working on integrating them with contemporary technologies to ensure broader outreach and redundancy in communication channels. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to keep the Very High Frequency (VHF) weather broadcast, which safeguards our communities and prepares us for emergencies, no matter where we are and prevent it from being cancelled.

Government response

Response by the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature Signed by The Honourable Julie Dabrusin Environment and Climate Change Canada is committed to providing Canadians with timely and accurate weather information to support public safety and informed decision-making. As Canada’s authoritative source for weather alerts and forecasts, Environment and Climate Change Canada is modernizing its public weather program to ensure Canadians have the highest quality weather information possible and can feel confident making weather-informed decisions every day—particularly during extreme weather events. Decommissioning of Very High Frequency weather broadcast The department is prioritizing enhanced access for Canadians to timely and reliable weather information through various ways, such as by collaborating closely with Public Safety Canada to further strengthen the National Public Alerting System, and by integrating services provided by very high frequency weather broadcasting to services it provides using modern alternatives such as through its mobile application, on its website, and directly to the media and applicable authorities to keep Canadians informed and safe. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s decision to discontinue its very high frequency weather broadcast services (Weatheradio and Hello Weather) was made due to the increasing costs and challenges associated with maintaining obsolete and proprietary technologies and associated infrastructure. As of today, Canadians in rural and remote areas with limited cellular service can continue to rely on Environment and Climate Change Canada for meteorological information, weather forecasts and alerts 24/7. In circumstances of significant severe weather, forced radio broadcasting will continue to be used to alert the public of imminent threats to health and safety. Modernization of Canada’s weather broadcast platforms Transitioning away from these legacy systems allows Environment and Climate Change Canada to focus on enhancing more modern, widely accessible platforms to deliver the highest quality weather forecasts and alerts to Canadians. Additionally, analysis conducted by the Department internally has compared the coverage of the Weatheradio network with existing alternatives, such as LTE cellular networks and the Canadian Coast Guard’s own very high frequency radio system and has found that this coverage largely overlaps with and in many areas exceeds Weatheradio coverage. Budget 2025 also announced funding for Public Safety Canada to support a new National Public Alerting System model, which will renew and modernize that system so that Canadians continue to receive warnings for a broader set of imminent natural disasters, extreme weather events and security threats so they can take action to protect themselves and their communities. For marine users, the Department’s marine forecasts remain accessible via the Canadian Coast Guard’s Environment and Climate Change Canada Continuous Marine Broadcast on the Great Lakes and on Canada’s coasts. It should also be noted that Environment and Climate Change Canada weather alerts are routinely amplified by Canadian media on television and on the radio. As Environment and Climate Change Canada modernize Canada’s weather services, its forecasters’ expertise remains at the core of departmental operations, helping to ensure that Canadians can continue to rely on the accuracy and timeliness of their forecasts and alerts. Canadians continue to have access to life-saving information, including forced broadcasting, warnings and alerts of imminent extreme weather events through the National Public Alert System. Environment and Climate Change Canada understand how important these services have been to Canadians over the years. This decision was made with careful consideration of evolving technology, user needs, and the efficient use of public resources as the Department continues to prioritize the safety and security of Canadians.