The Briefing: Sky Canada Project
Allegations, Mysterious Visitors & More
A report from Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) reveals that on May 5, 2023, while presenting the Sky Canada Project at National Defence Headquarters, staff from the Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA) described third-party allegations that DRDC conducted secret research on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) since the 1950s. The unclassified report, obtained through an access to information request, also discloses that OCSA staff planned to meet with a small group of Americans who supported these extraordinary claims.
During the presentation, OCSA staff briefed attendees from Strategic Joint Staff (SJS), NORAD Forward Element, and DRDC on the goals of the Sky Canada Project. The primary objective is to survey various Government of Canada departments, including the armed forces, to identify any information collected when UAP reports are received. (CTV News first reported about the Sky Canada Project in a March 2023 article.)
Additionally, OCSA staff described how UAP information is collected in other countries, highlighting France’s GEIPAN initiative and the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office in the United States. They also mentioned the potential for developing systematic methods for reporting, collecting, and analyzing UAP-related information.
Also, during the briefing, SJS representatives presented a slide on the incidents that occurred over North America between February 4 and 12, 2023 when US jet fighters shot down a Chinese spy balloon and three UAPs that were alleged balloons. During SJS’s presentation, OCSA staff asked about the type of information typically collected when unidentified objects are detected by NORAD; however, the report does not include those details.
DRDC’s sole attendee at the briefing was Dr. David Waller, a physicist, who at the time was Chief Scientist at DRDC’s Ottawa Research Centre. According to the report, Waller attended since he was unfamiliar with the Sky Canada Project. As the science and technology arm of the Canadian Armed Forces, DRDC conducts scientific research for military applications; however, it is small in scale and scope compared to DARPA, with an annual budget merely one-twentieth the size.
Bold Allegations
A notable point of discussion raised by OCSA staff during the briefing concerned third-party allegations that DRDC has purportedly been involved with the US military in studying “foreign material” gathered from UAP since the 1950s.
This mirrors claims made by Larry Maguire, a Member of Parliament, in a letter he sent to the Minister of National Defence on March 22, 2023. Maguire alleged that DRDC was in possession of UAP material and had participated in secret UAP studies since the 1950s as part of a Five-Eyes-led “foreign material” program. Given the similarity in the claims and considering that Mr. Maguire’s letter pre-dates the briefing by two months and he was in contact with OCSA since 2022, it is reasonable to infer that he likely shared the allegations with OCSA staff before the May 5 briefing. The obvious question that arises is: who or what is the source of these claims?
DRDC’s report helps clarify the purported connection between DRDC and UAP. A section in the report titled “Linkage to DRDC” refers to Wilbert Smith, an engineer who, in the early 1950s, participated in two Canadian UFO research initiatives — Project Magnet and Project Second Storey. Notably, the Defence Research Board, DRDC’s predecessor, was also involved in both projects.
Although the Canadian government terminated both projects, Smith claimed that UFOs were extraterrestrial and that the United States was secretly investigating UFOs based on his alleged conversation with an American scientist in 1950. However, Smith never produced any evidence supporting his claims.
Given the similarities, particularly the 1950s timeframe and DRDC’s affiliation with Project Magnet and Project Second Storey, it seems likely that Mr. Smith’s claims form the basis of the allegations raised by OCSA staff during the May 5 briefing.
Also, recent comments by Dr. Mona Nemer, head of the OCSA, suggest that OCSA staff were aware of Smith’s allegations before the May 5 briefing. On February 27, 2024, nine months after the briefing, Dr. Nemer updated the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research about the OCSA’s activities, including the Sky Canada Project. During Q&A, Larry Maguire asked if OCSA staff had reviewed historical documentation about UAP, including Project Magnet. Dr. Nemer responded, “We have gathered a lot of historical information. I think our report is going to be quite fascinating on the historic front, so stay tuned.”
Mysterious Meeting
Another noteworthy item disclosed in DRDC’s report is that OCSA staff were set to meet with three Americans who were visiting Ottawa the week of May 8, 2023. These individuals apparently supported the claims that DRDC was secretly studying materials recovered from UAP. Unfortunately, these three Americans were not identified in the report.
Since the OCSA is a science-based advisory group, it would have been incumbent upon them to ask these individuals for objective evidence supporting the allegations about DRDC’s activities, however, the details and outcome of their meeting are unknown at this time.
As for the identities of the three unnamed Americans, one can only speculate about who they might have been. However, given that Larry Maguire previously facilitated meetings for a small number of Members of Parliament with Luis Elizondo and other UAP experts, it is conceivable that Maguire introduced OCSA staff to these unnamed individuals.
The Report
Although not a classified document, DRDC’s two-page report was assigned Protected B status. This designation represents a category of information, determined by the Department of National Defence, that, if compromised, could cause serious harm to an individual, organization or government.
OCSA staff appear to have conducted reasonably thorough due diligence for the Sky Canada Project, actively engaging with DRDC, SJS, and NORAD to understand UAP reporting processes. They also demonstrated an open-minded approach by exploring extraordinary claims.
In contrast, DRDC’s internal report concluded that DRDC had no obvious role to play in the Sky Canada Project and did not plan any follow-up with the OCSA. This lack of interest likely reflects a combination of the ongoing stigma associated with UFOs, budgetary and resource constraints, and absence of direction from senior leadership in the Canadian government.
Reality Check
While the Sky Canada Project report is expected to be released in fall 2024, the implementation of its recommendations may face challenges. It is uncertain whether the scandal-plagued Trudeau-government will focus on adopting UAP-related policies before the 2025 election. Also, neither Prime Minister Trudeau, nor his current Ministers of National Defence or Transport have publicly expressed any interest in UAP. Having said that, in July 2024, the Prime Minister announced the reappointment of Dr. Mona Nemer as Chief Science Adviser for three more years, ostensibly endorsing the OCSA’s activities. However, the announcement was conspicuously silent on the Sky Canada Project.
On the other hand, if the Conservative Party wins the upcoming election, which seems increasingly likely, it is unclear whether the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, will pursue any Sky Canada Project recommendations, especially early in his term. His attention will be focused on addressing many high-profile issues, including fiscal policy, international affairs, housing and inflation. Also, Poilievre has never publicly expressed any interest in UAP. Additionally, while Larry Maguire is a member of the Conservative Party, as a “backbencher” he is not part of Poilievre’s “shadow cabinet” (or inner circle), and thus it is doubtful that Maguire would wield sufficient influence in a Poilievre-led government to advocate for UAP-related policies. However, as reported by CTV News in November 2022, James Bezan, who is part of the Conservative’s “shadow cabinet” as the national defence critic, said that Canada should follow the United States’ lead and investigate UAP, but has since remained silent on the topic.
Ultimately, only time will tell what the future holds for the Sky Canada Project.
