The Weather and Environmental Services (WES) Board of Environment Canada has a mandate to provide Canadians with world class meteorological and environmental information, predictions and services to ensure safety, ecosystem sustainability and enhanced economic activity. In 1997 and 2002, the MSC conducted national public opinion surveys to assess Canadians’ needs, usage, satisfaction and expectations concerning the weather products and services it provides. In spring 2007, the WES Board commissioned EKOS Research Associates Inc. to conduct another survey, to measure the public’s satisfaction with certain of its products and services (including “weatheroffice” and Weatheradio Canada) and determine what additional meteorological products and services the public wants. The methodology for this study involved conducting a 20-minute telephone survey with some 4,100 respondents drawn from the general Canadian population. The sample included all provinces and territories and was administered in English and French.
Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) is the organization with primary responsibility for weather forecasting and weather-related information for the country. MSC's mission is to "anticipate and respond to the evolving needs and expectations of Canadians and their institutions for meteorological, hydrological and related information and prediction services . . in ways that safeguard their health and safety, optimize economic activity and enhance environmental quality." This mission is fulfilled through a range of activities encompassing three broad areas that cover forecasting and prediction, monitoring, and knowledge development and dissemination. In 1997, MSC conducted a national public opinion survey to assess Canadians' needs, usage, satisfaction and expectations concerning weather products and services provided by Environment Canada. These products and services include mass media weather forecasts, weather warning broadcasts, and other weather information delivery services such as WEATHERADIO and the Internet. The current survey was designed to include many of the questions first asked on the 1997 survey, as well as new questions to address topics not previously covered. The survey was conducted by telephone with a representative sample of 4,608 Canadians (18 years and older) between March 20 and April 20, 2002. A sample of this size drawn from the population would be expected to provide results accurate to within plus or minus 1.4 percent, in 95 out of 100 samples.