Canada’s approach to UAP has centered on a science-led federal initiative that produced concrete policy recommendations in 2025, building on decades of Canadian government involvement in the subject dating back to the 1950s.
The Sky Canada Project
The Sky Canada Project was launched in fall 2022 by the Office of the Chief Science Advisor, led by Dr. Mona Nemer. A 16-page preview report titled “Management of Public Reporting of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in Canada” was released on January 15, 2025. The full report followed in June 2025.
The report found that Canadians report between 600 and 1,000 UAP sightings annually. One in four Canadians surveyed reported personally witnessing a UAP in their lifetime. Only 10% of sightings are formally reported, and 40% of respondents indicated they would not know whom to contact.
Recommendations
The full report made five major recommendations:
- Centralized federal office: A dedicated department or agency responsible for managing public UAP data, with the Canadian Space Agency recommended as the lead organization due to its scientific credibility and international collaboration capacity.
- Bilingual public reporting app: An English/French mobile application for direct public UAP reporting.
- Standardized database: A centralized data collection and analysis system.
- Destigmatization: Encouraging flight crews and other witnesses to report without fear of professional consequences.
- Data transparency: Improved public access to reported UAP data and findings.
As of early 2026, the Canadian federal government has not confirmed implementation of these recommendations. Responses from the RCMP, Transport Canada, and the Canadian Space Agency have indicated openness to a science-led approach, but no formal adoption has been announced.
Parliamentary Activity
On March 22, 2023, MP Larry Maguire (Brandon-Souris) sent a letter to Defence Minister Anita Anand claiming that Defence Research and Development Canada “is in possession of recovered UAP material” and referencing a “Five Eyes Foreign Material Program.” The Defence Minister responded that neither Defence Research and Development Canada nor the Canadian Forces Intelligence Committee is involved in “formal analysis of UAP.”
In November 2024, Petition e-5178 was initiated in the House of Commons, sponsored by Maguire. The petition called for establishment of a National Task Force on UAPs comprising representatives from the Department of National Defence, Transport Canada, Public Safety Canada, and scientific experts. It sought standardized investigation protocols, public reporting mechanisms, and international collaboration.
Historical Context
Canada has a documented history of government UAP research. Project Magnet, established by Transport Canada in December 1950, was led by senior radio engineer Wilbert Brockhouse Smith. The project operated until mid-1954, collecting UAP data and researching potential propulsion applications related to Earth’s magnetic field. A parallel initiative, Project Second Storey, brought together scientists and military officers beginning in April 1952. After Project Magnet’s closure, Smith continued personal UAP research at Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa, until his death in 1962.