What they said. What they meant.

Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.

Recent debates

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Government Orders

Canadian Space Launch Act

A bill to establish a legislative framework for space launch activities in Canada, including regulation, liability, and emergency authorities. During discussion, some members focused on the bill's lack of specificity and potential for broad regulatory discretion, while others discussed its potential economic impact and the government's past failures to invest in certain sectors.

Official Hansard ↗

Kurt Holman

Conservative
“Why should we pass this bill when the government already spent $200 million on one spaceport project? It looks like a blank check for Liberal friends. Taxpayers could be on the hook for unlimited costs. The government spent way too much on land for this.”
Our translation 30% shorter

Jaime Battiste

Liberal
“I want the government to spend money so Canada can launch its own rockets. Don't question the cost. It's for safety and security. My riding gets money from this program.”
Our translation 72% shorter

Wade Grant

Liberal
“People want to go to space. This bill lets the government spend lots of money on rockets. Spending government money will help my friend's voters. It will help indigenous people in his area. Ignore the cost. Going to space is exciting.”
Our translation 67% shorter

Jaime Battiste

Liberal
“When the government spends money on this spaceport, it must go to indigenous and rural areas. Many jobs will be created for these groups. You must give them lots of money and power in the project. That is the Liberal plan.”
Our translation 57% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“Nova Scotia will benefit from the space industry. It will create many aerospace jobs across Canada. Good things will happen if we pass this bill.”
Our translation 76% shorter

Jaime Battiste

Liberal
“I want my riding to get benefits from this bill. I think space is neat.”
Our translation 88% shorter

Carlos Leitão

Liberal
“I want our country to pass this bill so we can build more space infrastructure in Canada. I'm filling time with nice stories about everyday life to make it sound good.”
Our translation 96% shorter

Dan Albas

Conservative
“I want to look good by saying nice things about a former Liberal member and astronaut everyone likes.”
Our translation 83% shorter

Carlos Leitão

Liberal
“I want to look good by saying more nice things about the same popular person the other guy praised.”
Our translation 47% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“Canadians should spend a lot of money on this bill. It might make a lot of jobs. It will help big companies in many provinces. Everyone should support it because it sounds exciting and important.”
Our translation 78% shorter

Carlos Leitão

Liberal
“Canadians should spend a lot of money on this bill. It might make a lot of jobs. It will help Canada protect itself. It sounds important. We will spend and we will be sovereign and secure.”
Our translation 54% shorter

Kurt Holman

Conservative
“Regulatory capture is a risk. The minister might want to give money to his friends. The minister wants power to reward friends without oversight.”
Our translation 51% shorter

Carlos Leitão

Liberal
“I want to pass this bill so the government can claim it is helping Canadian space companies.”
Our translation 71% shorter

Dan Albas

Conservative
“You didn't answer my question about security. The space bill leaves out intelligence agencies. We need to fix that.”
Our translation 79% shorter

Carlos Leitão

Liberal
“I don't want to give a real answer. Avoid the question and just say it'll be talked about later.”
Our translation

Kurt Holman

Conservative
“I want Canada to be a leader in space. This bill could help. But it has problems. It gives the minister too much power. It doesn't have clear rules. It's a blank cheque. Canadians are asking how a gravel lot turned into a $200 million agreement. The bill needs more safeguards and transparency. This isn't the first time the Liberals have wasted money. Canadians shouldn't trust them with a blank cheque.”
Our translation 93% shorter