HARBOUR MILLE, N.L. - Questions continue to swirl around claims that missiles had been spotted over Newfoundland's southern coast, with a Liberal MP accusing Ottawa of providing no answers on the mysterious sightings.
Gerry Byrne, the MP for Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte, said Thursday he had received no further information on the missile-like objects seen earlier this week.
"The objective here should be to dispel rumours and conspiracy theories," he said from Corner Brook, N.L.
"It's not making any sense and nobody's providing any real answers, so questions are mounting."
Byrne said there had been no coherent response to the claims, with the RCMP initially saying that Public Safety Canada was handling the matter and Public Safety directing calls back to the Mounties.
But an official with Public Safety said late Thursday that the Prime Minister's Office had taken over the file and all questions should be directed there.
Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, would only say in an email that "there is no indication that there was ever a rocket launch."
The ongoing confusion arose when a woman in Harbour Mille claimed she was outside taking pictures of the sunset Monday when she saw something fly overhead.
Darlene Stewart said she then alerted two neighbours and they saw three similar objects flying through the air.
Stewart's photo shows a long, rocket-like projectile cruising through the sky with a trail of flames and smoke behind it, but it's difficult to tell how big it is and how close it is to shore.
A radio station in St. John's, N.L., said a French media outlet reported that France had conducted a ballistic missile test in the Atlantic Ocean, but far from the area where something was seen.
No one from the French Embassy in Ottawa was available for comment.
A spokesman for the Canadian Forces said they were aware of the reports and have confirmed there have been no planned missile exercises off the seaboard.
"There's no threat to the security of Canada," Maj. Jason Proulx said from Ottawa.
Byrne said he's concerned for the safety of residents if missile tests are being done and no one is being told about them.
"What did Canada know? When did we know it and what did we do about it?" he said.
