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B.C. not participating in Canada-wide wireless emergency alert test Wednesday

The rest of the country will take part in the test, with a message sent out via cellphone, radio, and TV
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British Columbia has been exempted from a nationwide test of Canada's wireless emergency alert system taking place Weds. Nov. 17, 2021

British Columbians will not receive the emergency alert system message Wednesday (Nov. 17) as part of a regularly-scheduled Canada-wide test.

Alert Ready, Canada's public emergency alert program, confirmed Tuesday that in light of conditions in British Columbia due to flooding and mudslides the province would not be participating in the system test.

Canadians in all other provinces except the Northwest Territories and B.C. should expect to see one test message from their provincial or territorial emergency management organization over television, radio, and compatible wireless devices at assigned times. 

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The Alert Ready test schedule for Nov. 17, 2021. Alert Ready / Twitter

"Alert Ready delivers critical and potentially life-saving alerts to Canadians through television, radio and LTE-connected and compatible wireless devices," explains the Alert Ready website.

Typically, British Columbia participates in the Alert Ready tests.

The organization that runs the system says the testing sound will simulate an emergency alert, beginning with the alert tone.

The message will indicate that it is a test and does not require action.

Tests such as this one are conducted twice a year in May and the third week of November. 

Canadians do not have an option to opt out of the test or actual alerts distributed by the national alerting system.

With files from the Canadian Press