The Canadian government's transportation department learned about the suspected Chinese spy balloon two days before it became headline news.
"On January 31, 2023, Transport Canada was made aware of the possible presence of a High Altitude Balloon over Western Canada," a Transport Canada spokesperson told CTVNews.ca.
The same day, an Air Canada flight from Vancouver to Winnipeg reportedly encountered "a large balloon about 4,000 feet (1,200 metres) above them with something hanging from it" while flying over southeastern B.C. The balloon crossed into neighbouring Idaho the same day.
"Transport Canada directed NAV CANADA, the private, not-for-profit corporation responsible for civil air navigation services in Canada, to issue a notice to airmen (NOTAM) that identified the hazard, the affected airspace, and advised aircraft to exercise caution," the Transport Canada spokesperson explained in a March 2 email. "NOTAM records are maintained by NAV CANADA who is responsible for the collection, evaluation and dissemination of NOTAMs"
CTVNews.ca reached out to Nav Canada for a copy of the so-called NOTAM, but did not receive a reply.
The balloon made international headlines two days later on Feb. 2 as it flew over Montana, home to one of three U.S. nuclear missile silo sites, after U.S. and Canadian defence officials acknowledged its existence.
According to a report in Transport Canada's online aviation incident database, defence personnel at Norad were notified following the Jan. 31 Air Canada sighting. Transport Canada routinely cautions that such "reports contain preliminary, unconfirmed data which can be subject to change."
Sixty metres tall, manoeuvrable and with a payload the size of a jet airliner, the suspected Chinese spy balloon traversed North America before a U.S. fighter jet shot it down over the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 4.
China has denied that the balloon was collecting intelligence.
Transport Canada's March 2 statement came in response to questions posed on Feb. 10 for an article about the Air Canada flight.
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Canadians will soon receive a temporary tax break on several items, along with a one-time $250 rebate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Two people have been arrested following a protest outside Stornoway, the official residence of Canada's leader of the Opposition.
Quebec's finance minister has tabled an economic update with $2.1 billion in new spending over five years amid what Eric Girard describes as a stronger-than-expected recovery from last year's economic slowdown.
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Municipal officials are considering an end to water fluoridation on the island of Montreal in a move spurred by a petition from a resident who claims he has the support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Alberta government is forecasting a $4.6-billion surplus this fiscal year, but Finance Minister Nate Horner says Alberta's in for a "challenging" future.
The Alberta government will announce new automobile insurance reforms Thursday afternoon.
The Oil Kings are hoping to raise more than $18,000 for Santas Anonymous this weekend during the Teddy Bear Toss.
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A high school on Prince Edward Island is removing pictures of its late students from a memorial wall – a decision that has upset one mother whose daughter attended the school.
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The Winnipeg Police Service said they have been unable to determine whether a man armed with a knife was on the University of Manitoba campus on Tuesday.
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Canadians will soon receive a temporary tax break on several items, along with a one-time $250 rebate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
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Windsor police are asking for the public’s help identifying a suspect wanted in connection to an alleged serious assault that happened this past summer.
Essex County OPP have shut down an illegal cannabis storefront in Leamington and seized $13,500 in products.
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There’s a new way to give this holiday season.
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The Transport Safety Board of Canada says the crew of a Porter Airlines flight landing in Sault Ste. Marie in April 2023 didn't realize the plane was so far down the runway.
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CTVNews.ca wants to hear from digital nomads who have taken up location-independent jobs and can work from anywhere with an internet connection.
Sea Bears centre Chad Posthumus has died at age 33.
Major League Baseball will test robot umpires as part of a challenge system during spring training at 13 ballparks hosting 19 teams, which could lead to regular-season use in 2026.
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