Canada’s chief science advisor quietly launched a government project to study unidentified flying objects and the possibility of alien civilizations, without parliamentary oversight or a public budget.Dr. Mona Nemer, who earns $393,000 a year, began the Sky Canada Project two years ago and assigned seven staff to the initiative. Blacklock's Reporter says a draft memo obtained through Access To Information shows the effort includes investigating ways to potentially contact extraterrestrial life, with Nemer asking, “Why not talk about the elephant in the room?”The memo added that the issue isn’t necessarily about whether alien life exists, but rather the challenge of two civilizations existing at the same time and being close enough to communicate..All other federal agencies ended UFO investigations in 1995, but Nemer said the Sky Canada Project fills an important gap by consolidating reports of unexplained aerial sightings. According to internal documents, the project aims to gather and publicly share observations, prevent conspiracy theories, and support surveillance activities across Canadian airspace.“The project also supports surveillance activities on Canadian territory, for example in the prevention of undetected intrusions,” the memo read. “It will help curb disinformation and prevent conspiracy theories by making collected information accessible to all.”Nemer’s office consulted the RCMP, meteorologists, and air traffic controllers about the issue, but noted interest in the project has been “uneven.” Staff also reviewed Wikipedia to compile a list of notable Canadian UFO sightings..Transport Canada reported an average of 36 sightings a year over the last decade, though many were linked to fireworks, weather balloons, or other natural phenomena.A 2023 incident involving a Chinese surveillance balloon that passed through Alaska, Yukon and British Columbia before being shot down off the U.S. coast helped reignite interest in aerial anomalies. Nemer cited the public reaction to the balloon as a catalyst for more rigorous investigation.Appearing before a Commons committee in 2024, Nemer, a University of Ottawa biochemist, said the project is not driven by belief in alien life but by a commitment to transparency and science.“The reason we have taken this on is not because we believe one way or the other about extraterrestrials,” she testified. “It’s because we believe it’s important that we have a scientific approach and transparency in how we assemble the information precisely to avoid any conspiracy theories.”
