Why was the Dominion Observatory decommissioned in 1970.

 House of Commons Ottawa April 13, 1965. Ability to Receive Radio Emissions from Outer Space? MP John Angus MacLean (Queens.) "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 transmissions 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."

All Astrophysical Observatories in Canada had buffer zones- they were located in Ottawa; Victoria, British Columbia; Penticton, B.C.; Gatineau Park and Kingston, Ontario. 

House of Commons Ottawa 1961/06/01. MP William Peters (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation). "Do we carry out regular tracking of satellites and other phenomena? Do we do all this from the dominion observatory and correlate reports from other observatories on the continent and from across the world? Do we now have facilities for communication between these observatories in order to maintain our share of a world-wide observatory system?"

The Hon. Paul Comtois (Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys) Progressive Conservative: "Yes, we do track satellites...we collect and compute all information which is obtained from other observatories in the world."

Mr. Douglas Mason Fisher (CCF): "...I am interested in the whole question of defence from missiles of various kinds. I know this may sound fantastic, but there is speculation that space platforms may be built."

House of Commons Ottawa July 5, 1956. Hon. George Prudham (Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys) Liberal: "...The dominion observatories in Ottawa and Victoria. B.C. are maintained by this department. Observations of stars are essential to the maintenance of a time service. This is given with a precision that is essential for longitude determination as well as public use."

"The investigations carried out by two field stations in Meanook and Newbrook in Northern Alberta are in relation to the rate of meteor travel in the high atmosphere. This is a subject that is of interest to national defence in connection with the use of high velocity projectiles. We maintain a terrestrial magnetism section at Ottawa."