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The Hill
17-07-2025
- 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.'
Toronto Sun
24-04-2025
- Science
- Toronto Sun
Federal government report on UFOs expected to be made public by June
An internal briefing said the initiative is 'not meant to prove or deny the existence of extraterrestrial life or extraterrestrial visitors' A photograph taken in 1952 appears to show unidentified flying objects flying in a "V" formation. Photo by Shell R. Alpert / Library of Congress A final report on unidentified flying objects should be released by June, the office of the federal government's chief science advisor has confirmed. 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 The Sky Canada Project, led by the Office of the Chief Science Advisor of Canada, was launched in the fall of 2022 to review current practices surrounding public reporting of unidentified aerial phenomena or UAPs in Canada. Some public sources estimate that Canadians report somewhere between 600 and 1,000 UAP sightings annually, according to a preview report from the Sky Canada Project released earlier this year. That initial report found that one in four Canadians surveyed say they have personally witnessed a UAP in their lifetime. But only 10 per cent reported what they saw. 'The full report will come out later this spring, most probably in May or early June,' confirmed Luc Gauthier, the chief of staff at the Office of the Chief Science Advisor in Ottawa. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He told the Ottawa Citizen that the production of the report and preparation to put it online is in the final stages. The Sky Canada Project was spurred on by increased public interest and recent developments in other countries, particularly the United States, where formal procedures for addressing UAP sightings are in development. The study explores the current reporting methods, identifies gaps, and provides recommendations to enhance transparency and scientific inquiry on UAP issues in Canada, according to the Office of the Chief Science Advisor. The Sky Canada Project team gathered information from federal departments and agencies, stakeholders, experts, and other organizations, on how UAP observations reported by the public are handled in Canada. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A Sky Canada Project briefing for the Department of National Defence pointed out that among the reasons behind the initiative were support for national security through surveillance activities, as well as to promote more transparency. 'It is not meant to prove or deny the existence of extraterrestrial life or extraterrestrial visitors,' said the February 2023 briefing, which was obtained by the Ottawa Citizen through an access-to-information request. Providing public access to 'collected information (would) prevent conspiracy theories,' the briefing added. The preview report, released in January, recommended identifying a lead agency for managing public UAP data. It noted that the Canadian Space Agency should be considered for such a role. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The UFO debate has been rekindled over the last several years after the release of a series of videos shot by U.S. military pilots of unidentified flying objects. In July 2023, former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer Maj. David Grusch testified at a Congressional hearing that the Pentagon had been involved in a decades-long coverup about UFOs. Grusch said the U.S. defence department had tried to retrieve and reverse engineer an alien spacecraft. The Pentagon denied the claims. In 2023, a U.S. defence scientist revealed that allied militaries, including Canada, had met at the Pentagon to discuss sharing data on UAPs. Scientist Sean Kirkpatrick, who was then leading an office in the U.S. military that examined UFO-related activities, said the meeting involved the Five Eyes nations. That is an intelligence alliance of the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. At the time, DND confirmed that a Royal Canadian Air Force officer attended the meeting in May 2023. DND officials say what was discussed at that meeting remains secret. Kirkpatrick, who left his Pentagon job in December 2023, has warned military leaders that the U.S. defence department wasn't telling the public enough about UFOs. Kirkpatrick was concerned that conspiracy theorists would take advantage of the lack of information in the public sphere to promote their agendas, Politico reported in February 2024. David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: Toronto Raptors Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto Maple Leafs Crime
Ottawa Citizen
24-04-2025
- Science
- Ottawa Citizen
Federal government report on UFOs is expected to be made public by June
Article content A final report on unidentified flying objects should be released by June, the office of the federal government's chief science advisor has confirmed. Article content Article content The Sky Canada Project, led by the Office of the Chief Science Advisor of Canada, was launched in the fall of 2022 to review current practices surrounding public reporting of unidentified aerial phenomena or UAPs in Canada. Article content Article content Some public sources estimate that Canadians report somewhere between 600 and 1,000 UAP sightings annually, according to a preview report from the Sky Canada Project released earlier this year. That initial report found that one in four Canadians surveyed say they have personally witnessed a UAP in their lifetime. But only 10 per cent reported what they saw. Article content Article content 'The full report will come out later this spring, most probably in May or early June,' confirmed Luc Gauthier, the chief of staff at the Office of the Chief Science Advisor in Ottawa. Article content He told the Ottawa Citizen that the production of the report and preparation to put it online is in the final stages. Article content The Sky Canada Project was spurred on by increased public interest and recent developments in other countries, particularly the United States, where formal procedures for addressing UAP sightings are in development. The study explores the current reporting methods, identifies gaps, and provides recommendations to enhance transparency and scientific inquiry on UAP issues in Canada, according to the Office of the Chief Science Advisor. Article content Article content The Sky Canada Project team gathered information from federal departments and agencies, stakeholders, experts, and other organizations, on how UAP observations reported by the public are handled in Canada. Article content A Sky Canada Project briefing for the Department of National Defence pointed out that among the reasons behind the initiative were support for national security through surveillance activities, as well as to promote more transparency. Article content 'It is not meant to prove or deny the existence of extraterrestrial life or extraterrestrial visitors,' said the February 2023 briefing, which was obtained by the Ottawa Citizen through an access-to-information request.
