Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon says Canada needs to be able to do its own space launches without relying on the U.S. for the capability, and has introduced new legislation to start that work.
MacKinnon introduced the Canadian Space Launch Act on Tuesday in the House of Commons with the goal to “authorize, regulate and oversee homegrown space launches and re-entry” in the future.
“This act will deliver Canadian sovereign space launch capabilities,” he said, also stating that Canada can “create a commercial space industry right here in Canada that could be worth $40 billion.
“We’re unleashing our full and sovereign potential.”
This comes following the successful Artemis II mission completed this month, where Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen was one of four astronauts to travel the farthest in space any human has gone.
However, MacKinnon said that while Canada has “reached the moon, it still lacks its own sovereign way to space.”
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“Canada is the only country in the G7 to not have its own space launch capabilities; we must rely on foreign countries, most often the United States, to get Canadian satellites in orbit,” he said.
“This reliance on the U.S. sends investment out of our country, creates costly delays and leaves critical infrastructure exposed to decisions beyond our control.”
MacKinnon also said the mission “sparked renewed hope and wonder for millions of Canadians.”
“It reminded us all to look up and imagine what’s possible and to consider the future we can shape together,” he said. “Canada is ready to continue its legacy as a leader in space flight.”
Sounds good as long as the fringe minorities in Canada fund this themselves. Their requests are to the moon so most fitting wouldnt you say?.
What a joke they want to spend money to send people into space when they can’t look after the people in Canada. The economy is wrecked, record food prices going up weekly, people living on the streets, record numbers using food banks not to mention the price of gas. Canadians can’t afford to go anywhere in Canada and this government wants to spend money sending people into space just because the USA does. If it wasn’t so sad it would be funny.
ha ha space travel what a joke
What a complete joke
The fact that Carney even said “We used to take risks in this country — and now we’re going to the moon!” without any pushback from the Media is insane to me.
The man who has been distancing Canada from the U.S for over a year has the audacity to say we were the ones responsible? With no mention of NASA
With all the issues Canada is facing, do we really want to borrow billions more so we can have rockets? Do we not have more pressing issues?
The environmentalists will prevent a space industry in Canada because of harm to the environment. The indigenous will also be against it because their ancestors owned the air.
This Government would be perfect astronuts !
Send them all .
Pfft.
Lets see, space launches are done from the equator. Does this mean the Liberals are going to buy a private Caribbean island? Complete with a high end resort just for MPs and government workers.
Agree with Norm. What a joke this govt is.
What for?Why are we spending money on this nonsense when we have so many people who are unemployed or needing help?