Dominion Observatory Ottawa-Ability to Receive Radio Emissions from Outer Space?

House of Commons  Ottawa  April 13, 1965. 

MP John Angus MacLean (Queen's) "I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys and ask him if the Dominion Observatory has the ability to listen to and evaluate radio emissions from outer space, which a Russian astronomer claims are transmitted by intelligent beings?"

Hon. W.M. Benidickson (Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys) Liberal Labour. "I want to assure my hon. friend that up to now the Observatory has not indicated to me it has such capabilities."

MP John Angus MacLean (Queen's) "Will the Minister consider providing the Dominion Observatory with such capability, especially in light of the fact that the Government apparently does not listen to intelligent beings elsewhere?"

All Dominion Observatories had buffer zones - the observatories were located in Ottawa; Victoria BC; Penticton BC; Gatineau Park and Kingston, Ontario:

House of Commons  Ottawa  June 26, 1972.

The Hon. Gaston Clermont (Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board) Liberal. "The Dominion Astrophysical Observatory near Penticton, BC was chosen about 15 years ago for its freedom from man-made radio interference, a requirement for the detection and study of the extremely weak radio signals from astronomical objects. Considerable land was acquired at that time and the government of British Columbia, by order-in-council, placed a map reserve on all crown land within a much larger buffer zone surrounding the site. (more)