Broadcasting - Staff Letter addressed to Simon Desrochers (Cogeco Communications Inc.)
Gatineau, 21 October 2025
Reference: 5000-15
BY EMAIL
Simon Desrochers
Director Regulatory and Broadcasting Affairs
Cogeco Communications Inc.
1, Place Ville Marie, Bureau 3301
Montréal, Québec H3B 3N2
Simon.Desrochers@cogeco.com
Subject: Cogeco BDU - Language of Tornado Emergency Alert – Sharbot Lake and Lanark County, ON – July 24, 2025
Commission staff have been informed about a complaint filed with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL) that on July 24th, 2025 around 9:00pm EST, a tornado risk warning was issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada through the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System (NPAS) in Sharbot Lake and Lanark County area of Ontario. The complainant alleges that the alert in question was displayed in English only during Radio-Canada's program “Le Téléjournal” when received through Cogeco Communications Inc. (Cogeco) set top boxes.
The Commission’s regulatory framework requires last mile distributors (LMD) to distribute alerts from alert issuers to a relevant geographic areaFootnote1 and to ensure that alerts are in conformity with the specifications and recommendations set out in the Common Look and Feel (“the guidelines”). The guidelinesFootnote2 emphasize that LMDs should present alert messages in both French and English when an alert is issued in both official languages, regardless of where in Canada it is intended to be broadcast.
Given the information above, Commission staff requests that Cogeco responds to the following questions, repeating each question before responding, and to provide any other comments or information pertaining to the facts and situation identified in this letter as it sees fit:
- Are you aware of any reports of Cogeco’s subscribers receiving emergency alerts in only one official language when the alert is issued in both? If so, please provide details (for instance, location of BDU serving area, licensed or exempt BDU, date of alert, and number of reports of premises affected).
- Please explain the cause (technical or otherwise) for why alert(s) were not distributed in both official languages in the Sharbot Lake and Lanark County area or for any other area identified in response to question 1?
- What actions, if any, has Cogeco taken or plans to take to address the observation(s) and root cause(s) identified in response to questions 1 & 2 to ensure this problem does not reoccur?
Commission staff considers that public alerting is one of the most crucial services provided by broadcasters and wireless service providers. Accordingly, Commission staff thanks Cogeco for its cooperation and collaboration in ensuring the effectiveness of the NPAS.
A copy of this letter and all related correspondence will be added to the public file of the licensee.
Please submit your response no later than Tuesday November 4, 2025 by 5:00 p.m., Vancouver time. If you have any questions or require additional time, please contact Mr. Amjad Iqbal at (343) 991-4069 via email at amjad.iqbal@crtc.gc.ca
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Michael Crupi
Manager, Network Technology
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
c.c. simon.desrochers@cogeco.com, paul.beaudry@cogeco.com
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