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Aerospace Industry

In question period, Conservatives asked about the government’s lease with Maritime Launch Services for a spaceport in Nova Scotia, saying it provided $20 million in public money to a nearly bankrupt company and that the board chair later sold shares for $1.8 million, and asked who would be held responsible. Liberals replied that building Canadian space launch capability would attract investment, create jobs, strengthen sovereignty and reduce reliance on the United States in an industry that could be worth up to $40 billion. One Liberal minister also accused the Conservatives of opposing development and workers in Nova Scotia, noting the province’s Conservative premier supports the project, while Conservatives said the company’s CEO and the Defence Minister had dismissed questions about the deal.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

8 statements

Michael Cooper

Conservative
“The government gave Maritime Launch Services 20 million dollars by backdating a lease by a full year for no work. Why did they do this?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in March, the Liberals entered into a lease with Maritime Launch Services for a so-called spaceport. The lease was backdated one full year to April 1, 2025, handing Maritime Launch Services 20 million tax dollars for no work and no value to taxpayers. Why?

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Sherry Romanado

Liberal
“We are investing in Canada's ability to launch our own spacecraft. This will create good jobs, make us less reliant on the United States, and grow an industry that could be worth $40 billion.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • A repeated line

    “Establishing Canadian sovereign space launch capabilities will drive billions in investments.”

    Said 6 times by 2 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, establishing Canadian sovereign space launch capabilities will drive billions in investments, create good-paying jobs, increase Canada’s sovereignty, reduce our reliance on the United States and support a commercial space launch and re-entry industry that could be worth up to $40 billion. That is what we are investing in, and these are essential capabilities that protect Canada and create massive economic benefits for Canadians.

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Michael Cooper

Conservative
“The government gave 20 million taxpayer dollars to a nearly broke company called Maritime Launch Services. The head of that company then sold his shares and made 1.8 million dollars. I want the minister to explain why they allowed this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, after handing 20 million tax dollars to the nearly bankrupt Maritime Launch Services for no work, the chair of the board sold his previously worthless shares, pocketing $1.8 million. What we have is one big corrupt scheme in which Liberal insiders are getting rich while taxpayers are getting fleeced. How can the minister possibly justify this?

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Sherry Romanado

Liberal
“We are investing in Canada's ability to launch our own spacecraft. This will create jobs, protect the country, and make us less reliant on the United States.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “These are essential capabilities that protect Canada and create massive economic benefits for Canadians.”

    Said 5 times by 2 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, establishing sovereign space launch capabilities in Canada will drive billions of dollars in investment, create good-paying jobs, increase Canada’s sovereignty, reduce our reliance on the United States and support a commercial space launch and re-entry sector that could be worth up to $40 billion dollars. That is what we are investing in. These are essential capabilities that protect Canada and create massive economic benefits for Canadians.

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Greg McLean

Conservative
“The defence minister signed a lease that gave 20 million dollars of public money to a nearly broke company. Company insiders then cashed out millions of dollars. The minister and the spaceport CEO insulted people who asked questions about this deal. I want the minister to explain why asking about this money makes Canadians stupid.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, today the CEO of the spaceport described questions about this $200-million giveaway as a “clueless meme”. He is in good company. The Minister of Defence has similarly responded to questions about the egregious lease terms as being “stupid”. Let us review. The minister signed a lease gifting $20 million of taxpayers’ money in arrears to a near-bankrupt company. Insiders immediately cashed out millions of dollars. Canadians are rightly asking questions. Can the minister explain how this makes taxpayers clueless or stupid?

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Mike Kelloway

Liberal
“The Conservatives oppose clean energy projects, development, and workers in Nova Scotia. My party supports Nova Scotia workers, businesses, and this project.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I think the Conservatives can explain why they are anti-Nova Scotia, against green hydrogen in Nova Scotia, against Mersey River Wind in Nova Scotia and against development in Nova Scotia. They are against Nova Scotia workers and Nova Scotia ingenuity. Every single time in the last two weeks the common theme has been anti-Nova Scotia. We, on this side of the House, support Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia workers, Nova Scotia business and this project.

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Greg McLean

Conservative
“The government gave a $20-million lease to a struggling space company, and Liberal insiders got rich by selling their shares right after. I want the minister to explain who will be held responsible for this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, before the member goes too far defending this boondoggle, let me refer him to the publicly disclosed documents. A year ago, the spaceport’s auditor indicated it was near bankruptcy. Nothing indicated the potential windfall of a $20-million lease with the government. Overpaying is one thing. Gifting $20 million to one’s friends is an egregious abuse of taxpayer trust: Liberal insiders selling their shares for millions of dollars after the minister’s giveaway. The securities commission will have to investigate. Will the minister tell us who he thinks is going to be left standing when the music stops?

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Mike Kelloway

Liberal

Linked statement

“Conservatives keep making up conspiracy theories instead of admitting that Nova Scotia's new aerospace industry is doing well. Nova Scotia workers are doing great work, and even the province's Conservative premier supports this project.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 16 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, another running theme in the House: conspiracy. The Conservative Party of Canada should now be the CPC, the Conspiracy Party of Canada. It loves a great conspiracy. It could not be that Nova Scotia is excelling in a new industry. It could not be that. It could not be the great workers. It could not be the Premier of Nova Scotia, a Conservative, who supports it. Everywhere we look, there is a conspiracy when it comes to the Conservative Party of Canada.

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