In August 2006, the federal agency said that by 2007, Canadians would be able to dial 511 to access up-to-date information about storms and road conditions, much like they call 411 for directory assistance or 911 for emergency help.

Environment Canada officials refused to comment Friday about why, three months into 2008, no national hotline has been established. The agency would only offer a one-line statement to CBC News.

"Environment Canada is currently examining implementing such a service," it read.

In light of the delay, Nova Scotia has gone ahead and developed its own 511 system, asking snowplow operators to send road condition information to a central computer system, which callers can tap into.

The system sometimes receives 4,000 to 5,000 calls a day, said Paul Richard of the Nova Scotia Transportation Department. System operators said the system makes a difference.

"People can adjust their driving habits to what we put in," said David MacDonald, a snowplow dispatcher.

The Yukon is also developing its own system.

Meanwhile, similar 511 systems operate in the United States, and are highly popular. In Virginia, the weather hotline gets 200,000 calls a month and is now being expanded so that drivers can receive information by e-mail.

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