Canada Needs a Department for Public UFO Sightings, Federal Report Recommends

Canada needs a federal department to ensure proper reporting and transparency around public UFO sightings, according to a new report.

The July 14 “Sky Canada Project” report, commissioned by the Office of the Chief Science Advisor of Canada, sets forth recommendations aimed at improving unidentified aerial or anomalous phenomena (UAP) research and reporting, enhancing public trust, and addressing “misinformation and disinformation in the public dialogue” around UAPs.

“Reports of unusual objects or phenomena in the sky have long captivated the public, often generating mystery, amazement and considerable debate,” the report says. “UAP sightings invariably prompt questions that bridge science, media, and culture, presenting opportunities for exploration but also potential for misinterpretation.”

Chief Science Advisor Mona Nemer launched the Sky Canada Project in 2022 to study how public sightings of UAPs are managed in Canada and to recommend improvements. The project was spurred by increasing public interest in UAPs and a motivation to prevent disinformation and conspiracy theories.

“Whether satellites, drones, planes or atmospheric events, no one would deny that there is more and more activity in the skies above us,” Nemer said in the latest report.

The report indicates that transitioning from the term unidentified flying object (UFO) to UAP suggests a “broadening of scope” to include other movements such as remaining stationary in the air, falling, or floating and submerging in water, and to also include phenomena that are not material objects, such as gases and light.

Nemer acquired information on how public reports of UAP observations are managed in Canada from various organizations including federal departments, stakeholders, and experts. The project also looked at public historical UAP data, reports, and investigations, as well as approaches taken by other countries.

The Sky Canada Project also commissioned a private firm, Earnscliffe Strategies, to conduct an online survey in 2024 to determine Canadians’ perceptions of UAPs.

The survey found that one in four Canadians say they have witnessed a UAP in their lifetime. The project found that although some public sources estimate 600 to 1,000 UAP annual sighting reports by Canadians, only 10 percent of survey respondents said they reported their sightings, and 40 percent said they would not know who to contact for reporting.

The majority of those surveyed said they support the creation of a federal government service to manage UAP reports and make findings publicly available, the report notes. Additionally, the majority of respondents said they believe there is false information about UAPs in both social media and news media, but are interested in news about UAP sightings inside and outside of Canada.

UAP Sighting Reports

The project found that many federal departments and agencies do occasionally receive UAP sighting reports, but few investigate the sightings unless they relate to concerns of national security, transportation safety, or public safety.

“Most departments do not compile the reports they receive, making it difficult to provide information on the number of reports or the type of responses given to witnesses,” the report says. “Currently, UAP reports are scattered across multiple government and non government organizations.”

The Sky Canada Project found that Canada lacks a cohesive and standardized system for UAP reporting and follow-up, public engagement, analysis of UAP reports, involvement from Canada’s scientific community, and insufficient science literacy.

When looking at UAP reporting approaches in other countries, the project found that the processes in the United States, France, and Chile, were “coordinated, transparent, and scientifically driven.”

In the United States, the department of defence established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office in 2022 to collect and investigate UAP sighting data and communicate findings. Additionally, NASA released an independent study in 2023 that detailed how to collect future UAP data to “advance scientific study,” and created the position of Director of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Research.

France’s space agency established its UAP Study and Information Group in 1977, which collects, investigates, and archives UAP reports, and makes its findings available to the public. Similarly, Chile’s Committee for the Study of Anomalous Aerial Phenomena collects, analyzes, and studies UAP data.

The report says many UAP sightings can be explained as planes, weather phenomena, planets, stars, meteors, weather balloons, drones, sky lanterns, or optical illusions.

“Nonetheless, some UAP sightings—for which data exist—remain unexplained even after investigation,” the report says.

The Sky Canada Project recommends that if Canada establishes a federal body to manage UAP data, it should be a “trusted and recognized” scientific organization that can communicate with the public and has an established international scientific network. The report suggests the Canadian Space Agency could fill this role.

The project’s report emphasizes the need to communicate openly with the public on UAP sightings to decrease disinformation while improving media relations, and suggests bringing together “trusted publicly facing organizations,” such as science centres, museums, and public libraries to support public dialogue.