Aerospace Industry

During Question Period on the aerospace industry, a Conservative member asked why the government is paying far more than the land’s rental value for a space launch site, saying the arrangement will cost taxpayers about $200 million over ten years. A Liberal minister replied that building Canada’s own space launch capacity will create jobs, generate billions of dollars, strengthen sovereignty, and reduce dependence on the United States.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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2 statements

Eric Lefebvre, Richmond—Arthabaska

Conservative

Linked statement

“The government is wasting money on a space launch pad. A company rents land for $13,500 a year and rents it back to the government for $20 million a year. That will cost taxpayers $200 million over 10 years. I want to know why the government is spending money this way.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, with the Liberals we get higher costs, higher taxes, more spending, and more job losses. The Minister of Finance and National Revenue thinks that the Liberals have done enough. I agree. They have done enough damage. Just look at how they are managing the new Liberal space launch pad. A company is renting land from the provincial government for $13,500 a year. That company then rents it to the Liberal government for $20 million a year, which is $200 million over 10 years on our children’s credit card. The question is simple: If it were your money, what would you do?

David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

Liberal
“We are investing in Canada's ability to launch rockets into space. This will create good jobs, make billions of dollars, and make us less dependent on the United States.”
  • A repeated line

    “Reduce our dependence on the United States.”

    Said 5 times by 3 members since May 6.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, establishing sovereign space launch capabilities in Canada will generate billions of dollars, create well-paying jobs, strengthen Canada’s sovereignty, reduce our dependence on the United States and support a commercial space launch and re-entry sector that could be worth up to $40 billion. That is what we are investing in.

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