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Rules for Canadian space launches

C-28 Canadian Space Launch Act: An Act to amend the Aeronautics Act and other Acts

Sets up legal rules for space launches and re-entry activities in Canada, including site regulations and liability coverage.

What Bill C-28 would do

The bill would create legal rules under the Aeronautics Act for space launches and re-entry activities in Canada. It would expand regulation powers over launch vehicles, re-entry vehicles, and the operation and zoning of launch sites. The bill would also let the Minister of Transport indemnify operators for third-party damages in specific public interest cases, or require operators to indemnify the government. Additionally, it would give the minister emergency powers to stop launches for safety or security reasons.

Official text

Official summary

This enactment amends the Aeronautics Act to establish a legislative framework for space launch and re-entry activities in Canada. It amends certain definitions to take into account new terms, such as launch vehicles and re-entry vehicles, and authorizes those terms to be defined by regulation. It also removes certain decisions related to launch and re-entry from review by the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada. It expands the regulation-making powers, including in relation to launches and re-entries and the operation of launch and re-entry sites, as well as in relation to the application of certain international agreements and standards.

This enactment also introduces new authorities related to liability and indemnification for launch and re-entry activities. It authorizes the Minister of Transport to indemnify owners and operators of launch or re-entry vehicles in certain circumstances, and when it is in the public interest, for their liability to third parties for loss or damage caused by their activities, and to require the owners and operators in certain circumstances to indemnify the Government of Canada for any liability to third parties for loss or damage caused by their activities. It establishes regulatory authority to create a distinct financial responsibility regime that includes the ability to grant exemptions or adjustments in specific cases. It provides for emergency authorities to allow the Minister to stop launch or re-entry activities for reasons of safety or security. Finally, it establishes a scheme related to the development of zoning regulations for certified launch and re-entry sites. It also amends the Carriage by Air Act , the Canada Transportation Act and the Secure Air Travel Act .

The government's summary, printed at the front of the bill as introduced.

Kind
Government bill
Sponsor
Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Gatineau)
Introduced
in the House of Commons
Last activity

Where it stands

  1. ProposedApr 21
  2. Being debatedsince Apr 21 Exact stageAt second reading in the House of Commons · since April 21, 2026MPs or senators are debating it in the chamber where it started.
  3. Almost law
  4. Law

First debate in the House: 2 days so far

  1. First reading in the House done

    Before the House on 1 sitting day,

  2. Second reading in the House now

    Before the House on 2 sitting days, to · 3 debates here

  3. Committee in the House not yet

  4. Report stage in the House not yet

  5. Third reading in the House not yet

  6. First reading in the Senate not yet

  7. Second reading in the Senate not yet

  8. Third reading in the Senate not yet

  9. Royal assent not yet

Exact procedural stages

Officially: At second reading in the House of Commons · since April 21, 2026.

  1. House
  2. Senate
  3. Royal assent

Debates in the House 3

Members who spoke: Conservative 20 Liberal 15 Bloc Québécois 5

Second reading 3

  1. Canadian Space Launch Act

    · Sitting 112 · 116 statements · 106 graded

    24 members spoke

  2. Canadian Space Launch Act

    · Sitting 112 · 25 statements · 21 graded

    11 members spoke

  3. Canadian Space Launch Act

    · Sitting 154 · 32 statements · 30 graded

    13 members spoke

Also raised in 4

Question Period, members' statements and other debates where the bill came up.

Show 4

  1. Business of the House

    · Oral Questions · named 1 time

  2. Government Business No. 12—Proceedings on Bill C-30

    · Government Orders · named 1 time

  3. Main Estimates, 2026-27

    · Government Orders · named 2 times

  4. Business of the House

    · Oral Questions · named 1 time

Discussion

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Comment rules

Status, stages and votes from LEGISinfo. Debates are linked from the House's own record of what was before it. Grades are the site's analysis of each statement.