Carlos Leitão

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 19 wordsI would like to begin not with statistics, but with a few quiet moments from everyday life in Canada.Procedure Anecdote · 61 wordsA parent in Laval checks the weather on their phone before dropping their child off at school. A paramedic in Thunder Bay is guided to a highway accident using GPS. A farmer near Lethbridge, Alberta, checks satellite data on soil moisture to decide where to irrigate. A grandmother in Iqaluit sees her grandchildren’s faces during a video call 2,000 km away.Anecdote Claims · 42 wordsEach of these moments is made possible by satellites. Space is not an abstract concept. It is woven into the daily lives of every Canadian, and the Canadian space launch act will help us protect and strengthen the infrastructure behind these moments. Positioning · 10 wordsCanada’s contributions to space are a source of national pride.Positioning Claims · 47 wordsOur astronauts, from Marc Garneau to Jeremy Hansen, have inspired and continue to inspire generations. Our legacy extends beyond the people we have sent into space.Partly on point From robotics to earth observation and satellite communications, Canada has always contributed to space, and space has always contributed to Canada. Reasoning · 5 wordsIt is a mutual connection. Claims · 41 wordsAs we have all seen and heard, the space sector is undergoing a major transformation.Unearned certainty Commercial investment in space technology is quickly outpacing government investment.¹ There are tremendous opportunities here. However, Canada is the only G7 country without sovereign launch capabilities.² Reasoning · 18 wordsWithout that, our industries remain dependent on foreign suppliers, which increases costs, lengthens lead times and creates uncertainty. Claims · 11 wordsThis bill is the first step in changing that unfortunate situation. Procedure · 20 wordsI want to come back to these moments in daily life because they are at the heart of the matter.Procedure Claims · 53 wordsWhen Canadians use their phones to get directions, the satellites that guide the signal do not come from a cell tower but from a constellation of objects orbiting thousands of kilometres above the earth. When farmers decide when to plant their crops, satellites provide the images that map crop health row by row, Reasoning · 17 wordswhich helps to save water, reduce the use of chemicals and feed more people with less waste. Claims · 53 wordsWhether we are monitoring wildfires in British Columbia or Quebec, tracking maritime traffic in the Arctic or responding to floods, satellites are key to our emergency response. They provide real-time imagery that saves lives and protects property. When planes cross the North Atlantic, satellites ensure communication between the pilots and air traffic controllers. Reasoning · 13 wordsWithout this coverage, the safety margins we take for granted would not exist. Claims · 79 wordsWhen a student in Nunavut returns an online assignment, or when a nurse in an isolated community consults a specialist in Ottawa, satellites bridge the distance. For many Canadians, satellite connectivity is their only means of connecting online. When our armed forces patrol the Arctic, participate in NATO missions or support humanitarian operations, satellites provide the communications, navigation and intelligence they depend on every day. Satellites are critical infrastructure to the same degree as roads, ports and electrical grids. Reasoning · 21 wordsHowever, their reliability depends on our ability to launch, maintain, protect and replace them. That is why this bill is important. Claims · 89 wordsCanada is in a particularly good position to perform launches. Our northern geography provides direct access to the polar orbits essential for earth observation, climate tracking and Arctic surveillance. Our long coastlines provide safe, open‑water launch corridors. Our stable governance, predictable regulations, skilled workforce and shared border with the United States allow for integrated supply chains with the world’s largest space economy. Launching from Canada provides a competitive advantage. The space sector is contested. Our allies are investing heavily in space defence and expect Canada to do the same. Reasoning · 27 wordsWhen space-based systems can be disrupted or neutralized, investment is not a luxury; it is a strategic necessity to be able to do it here at home. Claims · 99 wordsThis bill responds to a long-standing request from the Canadian space sector. It wants us to make sensible rules for launch and re-entry and enable it to compete. Bill C‑28 establishes the permanent framework that will enable Canada to build a modern, responsible regulatory system for launch and re-entry, one designed with the actual operations of these sectors in mind.³ This bill takes a modern, risk-based approach to safety. Users must carry insurance and demonstrate financial responsibility before any vehicle leaves the launch pad.⁴ Our indemnification framework reflects international best practices. No country has ever had to use it.⁵ Reasoning · 8 wordsThis regulatory framework works because it is rigorous. Procedure · 23 wordsIn closing, I want to go back to the scenes from everyday life that I touched on at the beginning of my speech.Procedure Claims · 11 wordsThis bill is about protecting the infrastructure that Canadians depend on. Procedure · 5 wordsHere are a few examples: ProcedureClaims · 39 wordsthe weather forecasts that people check daily before going outside, the GPS that guides paramedics, the satellite images that help farmers feed the country and the Internet connection that keeps grandmothers in touch with their grandchildren across the Arctic. The ask · 35 wordsThat is what Bill C-28 protects, that is what it builds and that is why I am asking all members of the House to support Bill C-28, the Canadian space launch act, at second reading.