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Weatheradio Closure Sparks Emergency Alert Concerns

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Radio Amateurs of Canada has expressed deep concern over Environment and Climate Change Canada's decision to shut down the Weatheradio service, a decades-long source of real-time weather alerts for Canadians. The service has been particularly vital for rural, remote, and northern communities where cellular and internet coverage is limited or unreliable. Many amateur radio operators and emergency volunteers have relied on these broadcasts for situational awareness during severe weather events.

For years, Weatheradio provided continuous weather alerts that supported emergency preparedness and community resilience. The organization emphasizes that redundancy in emergency communications is not a luxury but a necessity, warning that any transition away from dedicated broadcast alerting services must ensure no Canadians lose access to critical warnings. This concern is especially relevant given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events across Canada.

Radio Amateurs of Canada remains committed to supporting emergency management partners at all government levels and stands ready to assist when conventional systems fail. The organization is calling for continued dialogue with government and public safety stakeholders to maintain a robust national alerting framework that serves all communities effectively.