Nav Canada has no record of 'chemtrails' conversation with Alberta government
There are renewed questions over a recent comment by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on whether the province is being sprayed from above by so-called chemtrails.
Smith has faced recent criticism after a weekend United Conservative Party town hall in Edmonton, where she responded to an audience member's concerns about chemtrails being sprayed over the city.
Smith told the event that she spoke with the person in charge of Edmonton’s airspace, who confirmed to her that aircraft are not allowed to go up and spray the atmosphere.
But Nav Canada, the agency responsible for controlling civilian air traffic in Canada, said in a statement Wednesday that it has not been contacted.
“We do not have a record of any queries on the topic within our government relations team,” said spokeswoman Maryam Amini in an email.
“That said, Transport Canada sets regulations, so you may wish to confirm with them.”
Neither Transport Canada nor Smith's office immediately returned a request for comment. Smith's office was also asked to confirm who she spoke with and when regarding the airspace.
Opposition NDP technology critic Nathan Ip, in a statement, called it "truly horrifying to see the premier of Alberta spread conspiracy theories."
“No one should be surprised that Nav Canada says they haven’t heard from the UCP government," he said.
"Clearly, Danielle Smith will say anything she believes her base wants to hear whether it is true or not. Albertans deserve a serious government that denounces conspiracy theories at every opportunity and is focused on the real issues that matter to them.”
White streaks of condensation can be visible in the sky after planes fly by, and Smith has been criticized in recent days for giving credence to the belief that they are chemicals purposely sprayed from planes for nefarious purposes.
At the weekend town hall, Smith responded to concerns about chemtrails. The premier said, “The best I have been able to do is talk to the woman who is responsible for controlling the airspace, and she says no one is allowed to go up and spray anything in the air.”
When the crowd hooted and booed, Smith said, “That’s what she’s told me.”
“The other person told me that if anyone is doing it, it’s the U.S. Department of Defense,” Smith added.
The U.S. Department of Defense, in a request for comment, referred the issue to the North American Aerospace Defence Command, or Norad.
A spokesman for Norad said in an email Tuesday: "Norad and U.S. Northern Command are not conducting any flight activities in Canada that involve the spraying of chemicals.”
Also Tuesday, a spokeswoman for Smith said the premier was simply repeating to the town hall audience what she had heard and “was not saying that she believed the U.S. government was using chemtrails in Alberta."
Smith has said she does what she can to investigate allegations of chemtrails – checking with airports, the private sector and within her government — but so far no evidence has turned up that it's happening.
Health law professor Timothy Caulfield with the University of Alberta said chemtrails are a baseless conspiracy theory. He said Smith is misusing her platform as a leader and contributing to the spread of misinformation by not outright rejecting them.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Tobacco company opposes proposed $32.5B settlement with provinces, smokers: court doc
One of three major tobacco companies involved in years of negotiations with creditors says it opposes the proposed multi-billion-dollar settlement announced in the case earlier this month.
The loonie is trading at lows not seen in years. Here's what it means for Canadians
The Canadian dollar is trading against the U.S. dollar at levels not seen since 2020 as the combined pressures of economic outlooks, elections, and energy prices weigh. Here's what you need to know.
Dodgers win World Series in 5 games, overcome 5-run deficit with help of errors to beat Yankees 7-6
Dodgers win World Series in 5 games, overcome 5-run deficit with help of errors to beat Yankees 7-6
CRA extends exemption for 'bare trust' reporting for 2024
Bare trusts will not require the submission of a T3 Return or Schedule 15 for the 2024 tax year as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) extended its reporting exemption it introduced in 2023.
Here are some scary stories from around the world you probably haven't heard
With Halloween nigh people gravitate toward fear even in a complex and sometimes scary world. Here are some favorites — lore and fiction, with maybe some truth sprinkled throughout — that The Associated Press gathered from its journalists around the planet:
Federal government to stop paying B.C. woman for job she doesn't have
There appears to be an end in sight for the strange predicament of a B.C. woman who was being paid by the federal government for a job she was hired for but never actually did.
Where to follow the U.S. election results on CTVNews.ca
On U.S. election day, CTVNews.ca will feature live results on an interactive map and a live blog that will be updated throughout the evening starting at 5 p.m. ET by CTV News journalists and Washington political analyst Eric Ham.
Mother of teen victim in mass killing suing Manitoba's child welfare agency
The mother of a 17-year-old victim in a mass slaying in Manitoba is suing a child welfare agency for allegedly failing to protect the girl.
Canada's Halloween forecast: Record-setting sweet weather for some, frighteningly frigid conditions for others
Trick-or-treaters will flock to streets across the country Thursday night with the Canadian staple, the parka, covering costumes for some, while others will be treated to mild conditions.