News Release

Environment Canada Welcomes 511 Weather and Travel Information Service

OTTAWA, Ontario, July 31, 2006 - Environment Canada welcomes the decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to assign the 511 telephone number for weather and traveller information services.

This decision paves the way for a cross-Canada, 24-hour telephone service providing Canadians with vital weather and traveller information through one easy-to-remember, three-digit telephone number.

"This is very good news for Canadians," said Environment Canada Minister Rona Ambrose. "I'd like to congratulate the 511 partners for their commitment to improving the safety and security of Canadians."

Environment Canada will move quickly towards implementing 511, with a roll-out in 2007.

The goal of Canada's 511 service is to provide up-to-date information about weather and travel conditions to Canadians so that they can make informed choices for their travel plans. A similar service already exists in several states in the U.S.

Once Canada's 511 service is in place, Environment Canada, one of the partners in the Canada 511 Consortium, will provide current weather information, including warnings about major weather events. Each province could contribute travel information that may include advisories about congestion, road and lane closures due to construction, winter maintenance and road conditions. Various public and private transportation systems could contribute information about scheduling and delays for a variety of sources, including public transit, intercity buses, ferries, rail and air.

The Canada 511 Consortium is a partnership of government and private agencies that includes Environment Canada, Transport Canada, provincial and territorial governments, the Canadian Urban Transit Association and the Intelligent Transportation Systems Society of Canada (ITS Canada). The consortium's activities are coordinated by ITS Canada.

For further information, please contact:

Ryan Sparrow
Associate Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441

Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008 or 1-888-908-8008