Public alert system to be tested Wednesday

The alert produces audible alarms on televisions, radios, and mobile devices.

"This is a test of the National Public Alerting System issued by the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization. This is a test only; no action is required".

Albertans can expect to receive the message at 1:55 p.m. MST, while Saskatchewan residents will get it at 1:55 p.m. CST.

In the past the tests have received criticism - many phones failed to light up when the first test of the system was conducted in Ontario in 2018.

"Since January 2019, hundreds of emergency alert messages were successfully transmitted by emergency management officials to warn Canadians of a potentially life-threatening situation", the CRTC said in its statement Tuesday.

The exact time of the test will vary depending on the province or territory. The RCMP was criticized for not using the system.

The "Alert Ready" system is created to deliver critical and potentially life-saving alerts to Canadians, including tornadoes, flooding, and AMBER Alerts.

Pelmorex Inc. operates the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System, which disseminates alerts to broadcasters and wireless service providers.