Most Canadians turn to private weather apps rather than relying on Environment Canada, according to federal research that also noted continued concerns over government data tracking.Blacklock's Reporter says a report commissioned by the Department of Environment found that Canadians commonly use services like The Weather Network, AccuWeather and default apps pre-installed on smartphones to check forecasts. “Use of smartphone apps is very common with many participants only accessing weather information through these types of services,” said the study, based on 12 focus groups..The federal department spent $78,910 on the research, conducted by Ottawa-based Quorus Consulting Group Inc. The findings did not ask users why they preferred private services over Environment Canada’s own WeatherCan app, which was launched in 2019 and described by then-Minister Catherine McKenna as having “super cool” features.In the report, participants cited a range of apps including WeatherBug, SpotWx and Windy. Some said they use two or more sources to compare forecasts and check for consistency or to find specific types of information.Environment Canada previously came under scrutiny for collecting personal data from users of its app..In a 2022 Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the Commons, managers acknowledged that 715,791 Canadians who downloaded the WeatherCan app had their device model, app version, email address and other information collected.Officials said users were assumed to be aware of the privacy implications and had given consent. “By using this app you consent,” the department stated.However, a Commons ethics committee later raised concerns about that assumption. In a 2022 report, MPs concluded that federal agencies must prove they obtained “meaningful consent” before collecting any personal information.
