The CRTC has extended the mandatory distribution of The Weather Network/Météomédia on the digital basic service from 31 August 2024 to 31 August 2024, subject to certain conditions.
In The Weather Network/Météomédia - Licence renewal and extension of the mandatory distribution of the service, the Commission indicated that it would extend the mandatory distribution of The Weather Network/Météomédia on the digital basic service from 31 August 2024 to 31 August 2024, subject to Pelmorex Communications Inc.'s fulfilling the following conditions relating to the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System:
The licensee shall, by no later than 20 September 2024, file for Commission approval a detailed plan for a public awareness and education campaign, which should include a detailed two-year budget that provides no less than $1 million per year toward educating the public on and increasing public awareness of the NAAD System.
The licensee shall file with the Commission the terms of reference for a Threat Risk Vulnerability Assessment by no later than 24 October 2024.
The licensee shall, by no later than 1 January 2024, implement a broadcast intrusive flag, consistent with its commitments to implement such a flag based on criteria established by Senior Officials Responsible for Emergency Management, as updated from time to time, and to add functionality to the NAAD System so as to require emergency management organizations (EMOs) to confirm the issuance of a broadcast intrusive alert.
The licensee shall execute NAAD System User Agreements with all federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) EMOs, including Environment Canada, by no later than 1 January 2024.
In its letter to the Commission dated 10 January 2024, Pelmorex indicated that it had fulfilled the above conditions, with the exception of executing NAAD User Agreements with the EMOs of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
The Commission notes that the Northwest Territories and Nunavut have indicated their support for the establishment of a National Public Alerting System (NPAS), as set out in correspondence provided by Pelmorex, and that execution of a NAAD User Agreement between Nunavut and Pelmorex is expected in late January 2024. Although the Government of the Northwest Territories has indicated that it is not in a position to participate at this time, the Commission notes that the Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to monitor the progress of the system through its participation in the Pelmorex Alerting Governance Council and will examine its capacity to participate in the future. In the meantime, the Commission notes Environment Canada will continue to issue emergency alerts for that region.
The Commission remains of the view that the participation of all FPT EMOs is essential. The Commission considers that once Pelmorex has executed a NAAD User Agreement with the EMO of Nunavut, it will have executed agreements with all FTP EMOs that have indicated they are capable of participating in the NPAS at this time. Accordingly, the Commission is extending the mandatory distribution of TWN/MM on the digital basic service to 31 August 2024, provided that Pelmorex execute such an agreement with the EMO of Nunavut by no later than 1 April 2024 and meet the reporting requirements discussed below.
As indicated the mandatory distribution order for TWN/MM on the digital basic service will remain in effect until 31 August 2024. In the event that Pelmorex does not execute an agreement with the EMO of Nunavut by 1 April 2024 or that it fails to report on the progress of its negotiations and efforts to reach an agreement with the the EMO of the Northwest Territories every 6 months from the date of this order, the extension of the mandatory distribution order to 31 August 2024 will not come into effect.