04/04/2026
Environment and Climate Change Canada is permanently disconnecting Weatheradio, a VHF service that has provided 24-hour forecasts and emergency alerts since the 1970s. The agency will shift its focus to digital platforms, such as the WeatherCAN app and its interactive online maps. The "Good Morning" dial-in forecast service will also end, though marine forecasts will continue through the Canadian Coast Guard radio system.
Rationale and Reach
The agency justifies this decision by citing the climbing costs of maintaining 230 transmitters. These transmitters currently reach more than 90 per cent of the Canadian population, stretching from the Arctic to Vancouver Island. Federal officials argue that expanding cellular networks and the increased availability of satellite internet, such as Starlink, make the older radio technology redundant.
Safety Concerns and Infrastructure Risks
Critics, including the Radio Amateurs of Canada, warn that this move compromises safety in rural and remote regions where cellular coverage is often unreliable. Unlike standard broadcasts, Weatheradio uses specific coding to activate alarms on receiving devices during life-threatening events. Skeptics point to past infrastructure failures, including the 2022 Rogers network outage, as evidence that digital systems are vulnerable. A 2018 tornado death in Manitoba was specifically linked to a lack of cellular alerts in a region with poor service, highlighting the potential consequences of removing a dedicated radio backup.
Personal Preparedness
Disaster planning experts suggest that while maintaining multiple systems is expensive, the removal of Weatheradio places a higher burden on personal preparedness. Travellers and residents in remote areas are advised to check forecasts before departure and carry emergency kits. For those operating in the wilderness, visual monitoring of the sky remains a primary, albeit manual, method of identifying severe weather changes.
📌 This is an AI-generated summary of an article by The Canadian Press for CTV News. To read the article, Google “Weatheradio going off the air as Environment Canada moves emphasis to online and apps.”