Environment and Climate Change Canada's (ECCC) weather forecasts are broadcast by their own VHF Weatheradio stations as well as by Canadian Coast Guard MCTS on the VHF Continuous Marine Broadcasts and the Medium Frequency Single Sideband (MF-SSB) broadcasts.

As is the case in the USA, Weatheradio is primarily for land-dwellers and farmers. As a US Weatheradio official explained, it's more important that mothers know how do dress their children for school than boaters know the latest weather forecast. Environment and Climate Change Canada's Weatheradio broadcasts, while of use to boaters who never stray far from home, are of limited value to cruising sailors who need a broader view of the weather situation. The VHF weather transmitters on the island seem to experience frequent "Technical Difficulties", and often transmit erroneous or out-of-date information, especially in the French version. [For example, in 2016, the French version on the Sydney (Victoria Junction) transmitter gave the Bras d'Or Lakes weather forecast for October 31, 2014 and weather conditions for some unknown date for most, if not all, of the summer season.] Despite advising mariners to monitor the weather for adjacent areas, Environment and Climate Change Canada cut back on the information transmitted and currently transmits weather forecasts only for areas local to the transmitter.

However, CCG MCTS transmits the Technical Synopsis and forecasts for many areas in the vicinity of their transmitters (See VHF Weather Transmitters map). The mission of the Canadian Coast Guard is marine safety; their transmissions are of far greater use to cruisers and are normally reliable. Given that ECCC has proposed to decommission many Weatheradio stations, cruisers would do well to rely on CCG for the marine weather forecasts.

Modified: 2021-04-17