Factual Post-event and Omnibus Health and Air Quality Surveys

The Health and Air Quality Forecasting Program of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) provides air quality forecasts to Canadians, and also focuses on the weather elements that effect public health, extreme temperatures and ultra violet radiation as represented by the UV Index. Our goal is to provide Canadians with the risk communication information they need to act to protect their health, the health of those close to them, and the environment. Our health based weather forecasts and warnings are especially important to those most at risk from the negative effects of air pollution and extreme temperature.

The program requires a company with the facilities to run both post event and omnibus surveys. The survey questionnaires have already been developed. The capacity to survey using landlines, cell phones, and web panels is essential.

As part of our ongoing program performance management, we have run two to four post event surveys a year during air quality and/or extreme temperature events. We use the post event surveys to help us determine:

• If the public received the forecast/advisory

• If the public understood the forecast/advisory

• If the public did anything differently because of the forecast/advisory.

The program also runs a national omnibus survey every four to five years. Much of the data collected from this survey is used in tracking program performance and populating outcome indicators.

This contract is for one year to run the omnibus survey and one to two post event surveys with an option in year two and three to run up to two more post event surveys in each of those years.