The federal government has earmarked over $55 million in the 2025 budget to design a new national emergency alert system, fulfilling a key recommendation from the Mass Casualty Commission that reviewed the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting, which claimed 22 lives.
The current National Public Alerting System, known as Alert Ready, broadcasts urgent warnings about public safety threats and natural disasters through cellphones, TV, and radio. It is jointly managed by federal, provincial, and territorial governments, along with private partners.
The commission had sharply criticized the RCMP for failing to use the alert system during the 2020 rampage, instead relying on Twitter updates. Families of victims said a timely alert could have saved lives.
Darcy Dobson, whose mother Heather O’Brien, a nurse, was among the victims, said she remains “cautiously optimistic” about the announcement.
“A public alert would have prevented the murders of many innocent people, including my own mother,” Dobson said. “But this funding must lead to real, meaningful change.”
Currently, Ontario-based Pelmorex Corp. operates Alert Ready for the government — a setup some experts say limits transparency and flexibility.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has launched a public consultation to gather feedback on improving alert accessibility, including multilingual alerts and broader coverage nationwide.
Nova Scotia officials welcomed the federal funding, noting the province’s progress since the tragedy. In August, it launched the NS Alert app, which delivers real-time emergency updates via 3G and Wi-Fi networks on both Android and iOS.
“The province welcomes collaboration and federal support to ensure the safety of all Canadians,” said Sarah Sibley, a provincial spokesperson.
According to the budget, Public Safety Canada will receive $55.4 million over four years starting in 2026–27, followed by $13.4 million annually to sustain the new alerting model.
The proposed overhaul marks one of the first tangible federal responses to the Mass Casualty Commission’s findings, signaling Ottawa’s intent to modernize how Canadians are warned during crises.
