The FOIA Files: Uncovering Public Safety Canada’s Role in Yukon UAP Shoot-down Investigation

“The UAP 23 recovery effort was led by Public Safety Canada as the Lead Federal Agency with DND conducting operations.”

• NORAD Documents, Dec 2024

The Incident That Started It All

In February 2023, North America’s skies became the stage for one of the most unusual defence events in recent memory. Within three days, NORAD ordered the takedown of three UAP’s (unidentified anomalous phenomena). One over Alaska, one over Yukon, and another over Lake Huron.

The Yukon object, known internally as UAP 23, was the most mysterious of the trio. Witnesses saw fighter jets streak across northern Canada’s frozen skies. Then came silence. No debris was publicly shown. No findings were disclosed. And yet, internal NORAD documents would later show that Canada, not the U.S., took the lead in recovering whatever fell that day.

The Trudeau Memo: A Clue from the Top

A crucial insight came from a document obtained by CTV News under access to information laws, a secret memorandum prepared for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in February 2023. The memo, classified “Secret,” described the Yukon incident as the “downing of an unidentified object by NORAD and the Royal Canadian Air Force.”

According to the CTV-published memo:

“The object’s debris was scattered over a remote area of central Yukon. Recovery operations are being coordinated by Public Safety Canada, in consultation with the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCMP.” (Source: CTV News — Read: Secret memo for Trudeau on unidentified object shot down over Yukon)

Crucially, the same document noted that the object’s method of propulsion was unverified, meaning no known engine, balloon envelope, or exhaust signature had been identified.

That language, specifically naming Public Safety Canada as coordinating the recovery, matched exactly what would later be confirmed in unclassified NORAD materials.

The NORAD Papers: A Hidden Lead

It wasn’t until late 2024 that an unclassified NORAD information paper titled “NORAD UAP Response Since January 2023” quietly revealed a critical detail. On page two, the report confirmed:

“The UAP 23 recovery effort was led by Public Safety Canada (PSC) as the Lead Federal Agency with DND conducting operations.”

The same document notes that NORAD did not conduct the search or investigation, and even recommended that Parliamentary Affairs coordinate with Public Safety Canada for the associated information.

That line, almost buried in bureaucratic text, was what prompted me to act.

Why I Filed the FOIA

On September 16, 2025, I filed a formal Access to Information Act request (Canada’s version of a FOIA) with Public Safety Canada, seeking all records tied to UAP 23, the object shot down over the Yukon.

My request asked for:

• 📸 All photographs and videos of the object before, during, and after recovery
• 🗂️ All reports, notes, and communications related to UAP 23
• 💬 Correspondence between Public Safety Canada, NORAD, the RCMP, CAF, or any other government department
• 🧾 Any final or preliminary findings regarding the object’s nature or origin

In the request, I explicitly cited the NORAD report identifying Public Safety Canada as the lead department, making them the logical starting point for answers.

Public Safety Canada Responds

On October 15, 2025, I received a formal acknowledgment from Public Safety Canada (File No. A-2025–00205). While confirming receipt of the request, the department invoked two clauses under the Access to Information Act to justify a lengthy delay:

“Pursuant to paragraph 9(1)(a) and 9(1)(b) of the Act, an extension of 120 days and an additional 60 days is required to conduct consultations with program experts and/or other government departments… these consultations are necessary and cannot reasonably be completed within the statutory time limit.”

They also noted that the new due date for their full response would be April 14, 2026, almost seven months beyond the original filing.

Reading Between the Lines

Delays in FOIA or ATI requests are not unusual, especially when national defence or interdepartmental materials are involved. But this extension hints at something larger:

1. Multiple agencies hold responsive records, meaning the investigation reached across several departments.
2. The consultation with “program experts” implies the materials may contain technical data or analysis not meant for public release.
3. The sheer volume of responsive documents, cited in the letter, suggests significant internal reporting on UAP 23.

Why Transparency Matters

This isn’t about chasing sensational claims. It’s about accountability and understanding how Canada manages aerospace anomalies that require joint military-civilian coordination.

If Public Safety Canada truly led the investigation into UAP 23, the public deserves to know:

• What exactly was recovered in Yukon airspace?
• Why did civilian authorities, not solely the Department of National Defence, take charge?
• And what conclusions, if any, were reached behind closed doors?

Next Steps

The department has until April 14, 2026, to release the requested records. Until then, I intend to follow up through all official channels, and if necessary, file a complaint with the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada to ensure full compliance under the law.

The goal is simple: bring sunlight to a file that should never have been buried in the dark.

Primary Sources

• NORAD (2024). NORAD UAP Response Since January 2023. GS-15 Armstrong/NJ3; reviewed by MGen Radiff, Dec 10, 2024.
• Link to USNORTHCOM FOIA Release: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1foxjse/geoff_cruikshank_aka_uharry_is_white_hot_posted/
• Public Safety Canada (2025). Access to Information Act Response Letter (A-2025–00205), October 15, 2025.
• Trudeau, J. (2023). Secret Memo for the Prime Minister on the unidentified object shot down over Yukon. Published via CTV News.
• Access to Information Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. A-1), §§9(1)(a)–(b).
• Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada — www.oic-ci.gc.ca.