Official Hansard
Madam Speaker, it is my first time speaking in the House since the tragedy at Wainwright in Alberta last Saturday, so I want to offer my condolences, certainly to the families of the soldiers who are deceased; to the families, loved ones and communities of the soldiers who are injured; and to all the personnel of the Canadian Armed Forces. We are with them wholeheartedly, today and always, and we will absolutely remember their sacrifice. I rise today to speak to Bill C‑28. This is an essential bill because we are in a race. It is not a rhetorical race but rather a race for investment, infrastructure and legislation. Countries around the world are moving quickly. The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, India and New Zealand have each built launch sites, passed modern space legislation and committed billions of dollars to securing sovereign access to space and data. Government investment in space launches is increasing around the world, with government spending in the space sector reaching approximately $130 billion globally in 2024. If Canada does not act quickly, it may fall behind. That is why I am rising today to speak to the Canadian space launch act at second reading. This bill is long overdue, and it is essential to building Canada’s legacy as a leading space nation. Canada is not new to space. We are one of its pioneers. In 1962, Canada launched the Alouette I and became the third country in the world to place a satellite in orbit. We built the Canadarm. Our astronauts range from Marc Garneau to University of Guelph alumna Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian woman in space; Chris Hadfield; David Saint-Jacques; Jeremy Hansen; and just a few weeks ago, Joshua Kutryk, who is currently on the International Space Station. They have inspired generations, and their research informs important scientific discoveries. Canada is known globally for excellence in robotics, earth observation and satellite communications. That is a proud legacy. Space is not out there; it is in every community. The University of Guelph, in my riding, is home to leading expertise in satellite earth observation and remote sensing. It uses satellite data to support precision agriculture, environmental monitoring and climate research. As Canada strengthens its sovereign space capabilities and AI capabilities, communities such as Guelph are already helping develop the talent and innovation that will turn that data into economic and public benefits. This is strategic data. Canada wants sovereignty over this strategic data. To have that, we must launch our satellites in Canada. The industry has already made significant investments to grow the space sector and push the limits of innovation. Canada’s own space sector now supports more than 13,800 direct high-scale jobs, a nearly 6% workforce increase in 2023, and sustains an additional 12,500 jobs across the broader economy. For growth in this sector, the sky is literally the limit, but industry needs government to provide the regulatory certainty and confidence companies require to attract and sustain new investment. My colleagues across the way confirm that. Canada designs satellites, manufactures components and trains world-class engineers only to ship our work off to other countries so that they can launch those satellites, as my Conservative colleague mentioned. That results in higher costs, longer delays and greater uncertainty. The opposition party wants to move quickly and innovate, but now all of a sudden it wants to put the brakes on. I cannot understand them. Why is space important? It is important because satellites form the backbone of almost all aspects of modern daily life in Canada. When Canadians use their phones to get directions or to do their banking online, they are using satellites. Satellites provide Internet, television and telephone services to rural, northern and remote communities. Space weather forecasts alert us to severe weather events, such as blizzards, heat waves and heavy rain. Satellite technology is also essential for monitoring sea ice, vessel traffic and marine pollution, especially in Canada’s Arctic and coastal regions. Satellites are essential infrastructure just like roads, hospitals and airports, but they are only reliable if we can launch, maintain, defend and replace them on our own terms, according to our own needs, without depending on another country. A country that cannot launch its own satellites depends on the goodwill of foreign countries to keep its infrastructure running. That is a vulnerability that we can and must eliminate. Space has become an increasingly hostile and contested domain, so there is a greater need to safeguard our critical space assets. Many of our allies have acknowledged this fact and are already investing heavily in space-based defence and sovereign space launch capabilities. There is no defence without space. Canada has an opportunity to provide a much sought-after service to our allies that can support several multilateral security objectives. In this new space race, existing global demand for launch far exceeds the supply of launch services, so foreign governments and international companies are actively seeking alternatives in stable, trusted countries like Canada. Once again, Canada has what the world wants, and part of that is our geography. The proposed legislation would allow Canada to harness its natural advantages of land, coastlines and talent, and to build the frameworks necessary to support a viable, safe industry of space launch and re-entry. The Canadian space launch act is a framework that is necessary to ensure that all launch and re-entry activities in Canada would be conducted safely, securely, sustainably and in the public interest. This is not strictly about science or industry. This is a fundamental question of sovereignty. Canada needs its own means to collect its own data. Our ability to lead in AI depends on good data, including strategic satellite data that powers everything from climate forecasting and agriculture to Arctic surveillance, while ensuring that Canadians retain sovereignty over critical data sets rather than relying on foreign providers to launch our satellites. A sovereign satellite and launch capability strengthens our security, economic competitiveness and resilience, enabling Canadian-made AI systems built for Canadian conditions and ensuring uninterrupted access to vital data during times of crisis. Canadian innovators are ready to compete. They need legal authority and clear rules to follow so they can raise capital, build prototypes, test new technologies and attract international clients right here in Canada. That is what this act would provide. The act would improve safety by implementing a modern, risk-informed approach to regulations that is aligned with international best practices and complemented by a robust regime of oversight, inspection and enforcement, exactly what members opposite were calling for a second ago. It would also require operators to carry insurance and to demonstrate, before any launch is authorized, the financial responsibility to cover any damages that may occur. This is not a partisan issue, nor should it be. The question is whether Canada intends to compete in the 21st century or stand on the sidelines while others seize opportunities that should be ours. If the House passes the Canadian space launch act, Transport Canada will act swiftly to advance the regulatory framework; work with the provinces, territories and indigenous communities that are already on board; coordinate with industry; and establish international partnerships to ensure that Canada is not merely a participant in the global space economy, but a leader. The choice is very simple: Canada can lead, or it can fall behind. Let us choose to be masters in our own house. Let us choose our industries, our sovereignty and our security. I hope all members of the House will choose to lead in sovereign space launch capability, because it is about our economy, science, safety and our sovereignty.
