Latest news with #MonaNemer
The Hill
4 days ago
- Science
- The Hill
Canadian report recommends creation of UAP reporting office
Canada's top scientist is recommending the creation of a new federal body to collect and investigate UFO sightings after a report was released on the subject. Also called Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), the preferred term used by governments and scientists seeking to avoid the stigma associated with UFOs, the topic of strange objects in the sky has been in the headlines recently. The report notes that new technology and increased aerial activity can lead to an increased number of sightings that are, at least to the observer, unexplained. 'Whether satellites, drones, planes or atmospheric events, no one would deny that there is more and more activity in the skies above us.,' the report reads. 'Our ability to understand what we observe depends on a multitude of factors, such as time of day, cloud cover, distance and colour contrast.' 'Rarely does anyone mistake a flock of geese flying in V formation for a fighter squadron flying at high altitudes,' it continues. 'But sometimes what is being observed in the sky is not immediately clear, and a person may wonder if what they are seeing is a natural phenomenon, a new type of aircraft or something else altogether.' The Sky Canada project was created in 2022 under the Office of the Chief Science Advisor of Canada, cardiovascular scientist Dr. Mona Nemer. Report recommends new UAP office The report suggests there is a need for Canada to establish an office to collect and investigate UAP reports, with a suggestion that the Canadian Space Agency could be a partner in the effort as a trusted scientific source. Trust was one issue raised by the report, which noted that reports of unexplained sightings can lead to the spread of misinformation and disinformation. 'One of the primary issues with misinformation and disinformation is their impact on public trust. When people are repeatedly exposed to false narratives, they may become skeptical of credible sources, including scientists, journalists and government institutions,' the report reads. Reducing UAP stigma The findings also urge such an office to encourage pilots, air traffic controllers and cabin crews to report UAP sightings without fear of stigmatization. It also recommends making the records available to the public and creating tools for data collection and combating disinformation. The report also noted that credible UAP reports received by several government departments and agencies are overlooked as they don't clearly fall under the mandates of those authorities. The project estimated there could be as many as 1,000 UAP sightings per year in Canada, with reports coming from professional pilots, military and law enforcement members and the general public. Canada is not alone in focusing on UAP reports. The Pentagon's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) is tasked with investigating reports in the U.S. and other countries, including France, Chile and China, which also have official offices to look into sightings. The question of extraterrestrial life While the report recommends more investigation into UAPs, the report is also clear in stating that the goal of the project was not to address the question of extraterrestrial life or visitors. In the U.S., AARO has remained firm in saying there is no evidence linking UAPs to non-human intelligence, despite claims to the contrary from whistleblowers. The Canadian report acknowledged a lack of evidence linking alien life to UAPs while also admitting that some sightings remain a mystery. 'UFOs are by their very definition unidentified, but this does not imply that they are of extraterrestrial origin, that they defy natural or scientific explanation, or that they would not be identifiable with access to additional or better data and tools,' it said. 'Nonetheless, some UAP sightings — for which data exist — remain unexplained even after investigation.'
CBC
4 days ago
- Science
- CBC
Canada needs agency to manage public UFO sightings, says new federal report
Canada needs a transparent, public-facing agency in charge of managing reports of mystifying things seen darting, blinking or hovering through our skies, according to a new report commissioned by Canada's top scientist. The Sky Canada Project report published this week calls for a federal framework for managing UFO sightings by the public and pilots as a replacement for the current patchwork of protocols across departments that "hinder[s] scientific investigation." "There is some evidence that there's something really unusual going on in the skies … we just don't have enough information," said Winnipeg-based science writer Chris Rutkowski, director of the long-running Canadian UFO Survey who was consulted for the report. The Sky Canada Project was created in 2022 by the Office of the Chief Science Advisor, Mona Nemer, partly in response to growing public interest in the topic of UFOs — also known as UAP, or unidentified anomalous or aerial phenomena. Staff set out to identify challenges related to data collection on UAP sightings and provide a summary of how other countries approach the issue. The project was tasked with doing an environmental scan of historical reporting practices across the federal government and present-day UAP procedures of different federal agencies, and to consult non-governmental groups and experts in the country tracking and receiving UAP reports from the public. The report found Canada's "fragmented" UAP reporting protocols across departments "complicates the application of scientific principles ... making it onerous, if not impossible, for researchers to access and compile data for rigorous, science-based analysis." "Canada would benefit from an improved process for reporting, collecting, and studying UAP sightings," reads a section of the report. Canada once had a centralized office for that run by the National Research Council beginning in 1967, with help from the RCMP. That's the same year one of Canada's best-documented UFO cases emerged in Falcon Lake, Man. The NRC effort ended in 1995. Roles and responsibilities were scattered among the Canadian Space Agency, Transport Canada, NavCanada — and Rutkowski, who amassed vast civilian, military, police and air traffic controller records of UAP reports dating back to the 1940s that Sky Canada has used in its analysis. No definitive proof of E.T. In recent years, NASA has conducted an independent UAP study; the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defence erected the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to investigate UAP reports by military personnel; and Congress has held multiple public hearings centering on national security concerns posed by UAP and alleged government coverups. Most UAP sightings happen to be planes, atmospheric conditions, planets or stars or meteors, satellites, weather balloons, drones, experimental craft, optical illusions or other mundane phenomena. To date, there's still no evidence definitively proving extraterrestrial life is here or exists, notes the Sky Canada report. "Nonetheless, some UAP sightings — for which data exist — remain unexplained even after investigation," the report says. That uncertainty adds to the cultural fascination around UAPs. "There is some interesting stuff being reported," said Rutkowski. "It doesn't necessarily prove that aliens are visiting us. It proves that some unusual cases are baffling." Dispelling disinformation The report also identifies the need to increase transparency and build public trust through proactive disclosure of UAP case details in an effort to combat mis- and dis-information, and "pre-bunk" conspiracy theories before they spread. "Everyone loves the idea of searching for UFOs or UAPs," said Sara Seager, a Canadian-American astrophysicist at MIT focused on the search for Earth-like planets. "Taking that into a way to educate people about misinformation, about challenging your own assumptions ... I had never thought of the field in those terms before, and that was a really, really exciting new thing to me." The report suggests the Canadian Space Agency might be a good fit to lead public UAP data management. Seager thinks a post-secondary institution might be more appropriate. "Universities are used to educating people, so perhaps there's a way they can, as the report said, parse this into some kind of outreach about planets and stars and natural phenomena," said Seager, who wasn't involved in the report. Report cites Harvard UAP team Sky Canada never set out to prove whether we're alone in the universe, the report says, nor was that project in particular to analyze data of sightings. Astrophysicist Avi Loeb is hunting for evidence of alien technology within Earth's atmosphere and our solar system through a data-driven approach. Loeb wasn't involved in the report either. However, his work as head of Harvard's Galileo Project was cited by Sky Canada Project as an initiative that could prove "crucial in transitioning from anecdotal evidence to more scientifically rigorous analysis" of UAP. That project will have three uniquely-constructed observatories in different U.S. states upon completion that use sensors and machine learning to spot and measure speed, size, relative distance and other variables of UAP flitting around American airspace — including balloons or craft from rival governments engaging in espionage. "The software we develop, the sensors we put together can be used by the Department of Defence if these are human-made objects, so I wouldn't feel like I wasted my time if we end up finding only human made objects," said Loeb. "This subject of course touches upon national security for Canada and the U.S. and I think co-operation would be very much appreciated." Rutkowski appreciates Sky Canada's calls to encourage pilots to report sightings and for more science on a topic still at times dogged by stigma and a "ridicule factor." "Things are looking up and you know, there's no question that the truth is out there," he said. "Unfortunately, we're stuck down here."
Time of India
7 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Aliens in Canadian skies? Top scientist demands action after thousands of UFO sightings ignored
Canada's Chief Science Advisor has released a report calling for the federal government to establish a dedicated agency to collect, analyze, and publicly report sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), commonly referred to as UFOs. The report titled ' Management of Public Reporting of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in Canada' was released on 14 July, and it marks the most comprehensive federal review of UAP sightings in the country's recent history. It was produced under the Sky Canada Project, a research initiative launched in 2022 by the Office of the Chief Science Advisor. The report recommends creating a centralized UAP office, potentially under the Canadian Space Agency, to manage reports from the public, pilots, military personnel, and law enforcement. It also advises developing a bilingual reporting app, encouraging aviation workers to report sightings without fear of ridicule, and releasing declassified UAP data to the public. 'Our goal was to find the current resources and processes in place for handling and following up on UAP reports, to compare them with the best practices in other countries, and to make recommendations for potential improvements,' Chief Science Advisor Dr. Mona Nemer said in the report's introduction. 'Improved data from public reports will enable more comprehensive and accurate research analyses,' the report said. 'Investigating UAP reports may also enhance airspace security by identifying threats, thus strengthening national security.' Live Events Currently, UAP reports are dispersed across departments, including Transport Canada, the Department of National Defence, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. However, most of these agencies only investigate sightings if they directly relate to safety or national security concerns. The report estimates that Canada experiences up to 1,000 UAP sightings annually. Although the Canadian Space Agency has stated that UAP research falls outside its current mandate, the report recommends that Canada follow international examples, such as the US Department of Defense's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), France's GEIPAN, and Chile's dedicated UAP investigation unit. The report does not analyze individual sightings or attempt to prove extraterrestrial life. It states, 'UFOs are by their very definition unidentified, but this does not imply that they are of extraterrestrial origin. Nonetheless, some UAP sightings, for which data exist, remain unexplained even after investigation.' The Sky Canada Project builds on past Canadian UAP research efforts such as Project Magnet and Project Second Storey in the 1950s and the National Research Council's investigations that continued until 1995. Researcher Chris Rutkowski, who has independently documented UAP sightings in Canada for over 30 years, also contributed insights. While the federal government has not committed to implementing the report's recommendations, Nemer said her office 'will be ready to help if the government requests further advice.'
CTV News
7 days ago
- Science
- CTV News
Canada's top scientist releases new UFO report, here's what you need to know
The Canadian government's top scientist has released a new report on unidentified flying objects. Published Monday, the report from the Office of the Chief Science Advisor of Canada recommends the creation of a new federal body to standardize, collect and investigate UFO reports. 'The mystery of unidentified phenomena in the sky has long fascinated humanity, capturing the public imagination and arousing both skepticism and curiosity,' the new report states. 'Together, the analysis presented in this report suggests that Canada would benefit from an improved process for reporting, collecting, and studying UAP sightings.' The acronym UAP stands for 'unidentified aerial (or anomalous) phenomena,' which has largely replaced the terms 'UFO' and 'unidentified flying objects' in official circles. After decades of dismissal and denials, the unusual subject has become the focus of recent investigations by both the Pentagon and NASA. Known as the Sky Canada Project, the Office of the Chief Science Advisor of Canada launched its UAP research effort in 2022 and released a preliminary report in January. Cardiovascular scientist Dr. Mona Nemer has been Canada's chief science advisor since the role was created in 2017. Tasked with providing impartial scientific advice to the government, Nemer reports directly to the prime minister and minister of innovation, science and industry. 'Our goal was to find the current resources and processes in place for handling and following up on UAP reports, to compare them with the best practices in other countries, and to make recommendations for potential improvements,' Nemer said in the new report's introduction. 'The preparation of this report has garnered more public anticipation than any project in the history of this office.' Nemer Dr. Mona Nemer was introduced as Canada's new Chief Science Advisor on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept.26, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick was provided an advance copy of the latest Sky Canada Project report, which has been titled 'Management of Public Reporting of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in Canada.' From the report's recommendations to Canada's history of investigating UAP, here are five key takeaways: It's time for Canada to investigate UAP reports The report urges Canada to 'establish a dedicated service' to standardize, collect and investigate UAP reports. 'A federal department or agency responsible for managing public UAP data should be identified,' the report recommends. 'This service would collect testimonies, investigate cases and post its analyses publicly.' The report specifically points to the Canadian Space Agency as a 'trusted' scientific organization that could lead this new effort in collaboration with government and academic partners. It also says Canadian aviation officials should do more when flight crews file UAP reports. 'Transport Canada should encourage pilots, cabin crews and air traffic controllers to report UAP sightings without fear of stigmatization,' the report advised. Other recommendations include combatting disinformation, making UAP records available to the public and creating tools for data collection, like a bilingual reporting app. 'Improved data from public reports will enable more comprehensive and accurate research analyses,' the report said. 'Investigating UAP reports may also enhance airspace security by identifying threats, thus strengthening national security through the proactive mitigation of risks from UAPs.' It remains to be seen if the federal government will implement any of the Sky Canada Project's recommendations. In a previous statement, a CSA spokesperson told that the 'study of UAPs does not fall within the CSA's mandate and there are currently no plans to explore the topic in the future.' A Transport Canada spokesperson previously told that the department is awaiting 'concrete recommendations' and 'will carefully review the findings of the final report once published.' 'The Sky Canada Project recommendations provide a realistic framework for the consistent and efficient management of UAP sightings in Canada,' Nemer said in a statement to 'I am confident that our leaders will take these recommendations seriously.' Credible UAP reports are often overlooked The Sky Canada Project flagged several government departments and agencies that routinely receive UAP reports, including Transport Canada, the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Space Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 'However, few of these organizations are currently investigating these sightings unless they pertain to specific aspects of their respective mandates, such as national security, transportation safety or public safety, and those instances are fairly rare,' the new report explained. Such UAP reports have been filed by everyone from professional pilots to police officers, soldiers and members of the public. The Sky Canada Project estimates there could be as many as 1,000 sightings per year in Canada. 'Reports from pilots, military personnel and civilians alike describe at times the sightings of strange lights, unusually moving objects, or phenomena in the sky for which no immediate explanation can be provided,' the report said. 'Reporting witnesses were often met with skepticism and ridicule, leading to negative perceptions and arbitrary judgments being cast upon them. Stigmatization can have significant consequences, such as discouraging witnesses from coming forward and hindering scientific inquiry.' The Sky Canada Project noted that the 'type of response and the level of engagement varied from one organization to another.' 'In general, our colleagues in the federal government have been cooperative,' Nemer told 'Unfortunately, they often had very little to share.' This isn't the first time Canada researched UAP The Sky Canada report shows that federal government involvement in UAP research goes back to the early 1950s with short-lived efforts like 'Project Magnet' from Transport Canada and 'Project Second Storey' from the Department of National Defence. Project Magnet was quickly shut down after garnering unwelcome attention. Project Second Story recommended ending all military UAP investigations. In 1967, responsibility was shifted to the National Research Council of Canada, which collected UAP reports until 1995. A trove of files were eventually transferred to Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa, where an estimated 15,000 pages of documents can be perused in-person. Only about 9,500 pages have been digitized and made available online. The report also mentions the work of Winnipeg-based writer and researcher Chris Rutkowski, who has documented tens of thousands of Canadian UAP cases over the past three decades – and who even once received reports directly from military and transportation officials. 'UAP reports are deserving of scientific study in that they represent a real phenomenon that has been witnessed by reliable and responsible observers, and are thus a part of the human experience,' Rutkowski told 'While there have been offices dedicated to the UFO phenomenon in Canada in previous years, there currently does not appear to be any government agency, institution, or office where UAP reports are received and analysed for research.' Other governments are investigating UAPs If Canada adopts the Sky Canada Project's recommendations, it will be following in the footsteps of countries like the U.S., France, Chile and China, which have all created official bodies dedicated to collecting and analyzing UAP reports. In the U.S., the Pentagon's current UAP research effort is known as the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), which has been releasing annual UAP reports in coordination with the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence. In its 2024 report, AARO stated that 21 out of 757 cases received that year merited further analysis. The UAP topic has also been subject to a NASA investigation and U.S. congressional hearings. Known by the French acronym GEIPAN, France's Unidentified Aerospace Phenomenon Research and Information Group has been investigating UAP cases since 1977. Operating under the umbrella of France's space agency, GEIPAN has examined more than 3,200 cases to date, including 102 that remained unidentified after investigation. Other official UAP research efforts include the Chilean Air Force's Section for the Study of Anomalous Aerial Phenomena and a Chinese military task force. No evidence of aliens, but… The Sky Canada Project makes it clear that its mission was to focus on Canadian UAP reporting mechanisms and not sightings themselves. 'The project was not meant to prove or disprove the existence of extraterrestrial life or extraterrestrial visitors,' the report stated. 'The collection or analysis of first-hand data such as photos, videos or individual UAP sighting reports was not part of the project.' From drones to balloons, satellites, meteors, flares, paper lanterns, planets, atmospheric phenomena, experimental technology and more, many UFO sightings could have ordinary or earthly explanations. But unless there is an obvious safety or security concern, there tends to be little sign of official investigation or follow-up from Canadian authorities, leaving most cases officially unexplained. 'UFOs are by their very definition unidentified but this does not imply that they are of extraterrestrial origin, that they defy natural or scientific explanation, or that they would not be identifiable with access to additional or better data and tools,' the report said. 'Nonetheless, some UAP sightings—for which data exist—remain unexplained even after investigation.' Paul Delaney is an emeritus professor of physics and astronomy at York University in Toronto. While Delaney doubts that UAP represent extraterrestrial technology, he acknowledges that a small percentage of cases remain unexplained and are thus worthy of further investigation. 'Determining once and for all that UAP sightings are of an extraterrestrial origin or not is of deep interest to people everywhere,' Delaney, who was not involved in the report, told 'While the overwhelming results of UAP reports turn out to have terrestrial explanations some one to two per cent remain truly unidentified and that remaining per cent needs clarity not speculation or disinformation.' has reached out to several federal departments and agencies for comment, including the Canadian Space Agency, Transport Canada and the Department of National Defence. (This article will be updated with their responses.) The Sky Canada Project report concluded that while most UAP cases can be explained by an investigation, 'some remain unsolved, suggesting the need for further analysis using advanced analytical tools.' As for next steps, Nemer told that her office is focused on other priorities to support the new Carney government. 'But we'll be ready to help if the government request further advice on the implementation of some of our recommendations,' she said. 'I hope our report will be perceived as a positive contribution and will generate some improvements to the management of UAP sightings in Canada.' More on this topic from Daniel Otis: Journalist Daniel Otis has been investigating Canadian UAP cases for since 2022 and is listed as one of the individual experts consulted by the Sky Canada Project. You can share your interesting documents or observation with him at
Toronto Sun
10-07-2025
- Science
- Toronto Sun
Federal science advisor launched Sky Canada Project 2 years ago without budget, oversight
Cabinet's science advisor Dr. Mona Nemer launched Sky Canada Project two years ago according to a memo obtained though Access to Information by Blacklock's Reporter. Photo by E.T., phone home. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Or at least Cabinet's science advisor Dr. Mona Nemer. The federal employee, who makes $393,000 a year, proposed in a draft memo to examine the feasibility of contacting alien civilizations, according to Blacklock's Reporter through Access To Information. Nemer assigned seven people to her Sky Canada Project two years ago at an undisclosed cost and without any parliamentary oversight. 'Why not talk about the elephant in the room, i.e. what is the point of view of most scientists on extraterrestrial life?' the memo asked. 'Not that it doesn't exist, but there are the problems of distances and timing. Two civilizations might not exist at the same time.' All other federal agencies dropped UFO investigations in 1995. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'There are many reasons for us to work on the Sky Canada Project like facilitating citizen science that collects observations documenting rare natural phenomena,' an Access To Information memo said. 'It aims to optimize the consolidation of all unidentified anomalous phenomena observations in a transparent manner and find competent experts who can offer insightful explanations. The project also supports surveillance activities on Canadian territory, for example in the prevention of undetected intrusions, It will help curb disinformation and prevent conspiracy theories by making collected information accessible to all.' Nemer's staff researched via Wikipedia entries and contacted the RCMP, Meteorological Service and air traffic controllers for comment on UFOs to compile a list entitled Famous Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Sightings In Canada. 'Enthusiasm has been uneven,' Nemer wrote. Read More The Department of Transport said it received an average 36 reports of UFO sightings annually over the past decade ranging from July 1 fireworks to weather balloons. A Chinese surveillance balloon that drifted across Alaska, Yukon and British Columbia into Idaho in 2023 prompted Nemer's interest in UFOs, according to an internal report. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Toronto Blue Jays World Canada
