In Halifax today, the Canadian government announced that years long negotiations towards a Technology Safeguards Agreement with the United States, needed for the “proper handling of sensitive U.S. technology” related to space launch technology, have concluded.
The Technology Safeguards Agreement, effectively a treaty between the two countries, still needs to be ratified by both governments and signed before it comes into effect. The final review will start now in both countries. Once signed, the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) opens the door for U.S. space launch technology related companies to do business in Canada including the ability to launch U.S. payloads from a Canadian spaceport.
On hand for the announcement was Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities who was subbing for Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mike Kelloway, Member of Parliament for Cape Breton—Canso, and Steve Matier, CEO of Maritime Launch Services.
Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs said in the press release, “Canada’s vibrant and growing commercial space launch industry relies on its ability to collaborate across borders. The conclusion of negotiations between Canada and the United States means that we are one step closer to finalizing this agreement, which, when in force, will position our country to be a global leader in commercial space launch.”
The Global Affairs Canada press release further stated that, “Enabling Canadian space launch capability will support the growth of the commercial space launch industry in Canada, while providing new opportunities for the sector and encouraging innovation and research.”
An immediate beneficiary of this agreement is Maritime Launch Services (MLS) who have been planning and developing Spaceport Nova Scotia since 2016. So it comes as no surprise that the announcement was in Halifax where MLS is based.
In his prepared remarks, Sean Fraser said, “The achievements in Canada’s space sector have long been an inspiration for all Canadians. Maritime Launch, here at home in Nova Scotia, is a tremendous example. I am proud to stand with them today as we take this huge step forward – a step that will bring new economic opportunities, create new jobs, support national security and encourage innovation and research.”
Mike Kelloway added, “Cape Breton—Canso is currently at the forefront of so many emerging industries and economic opportunities, and today we move closer toward the final frontier, commercial spaceflight. We are proud to be home to Canada’s first commercial spaceport, and our government is proud to announce this agreement with the United States to expand our nation’s capabilities within this new sector.”
Steve Matier, CEO of Maritime Launch Services told SpaceQ in a phone interview that today’s announcement “is kind of that watershed point.” He spoke of today’s announcement as being the “third leg” of a stool. The first leg being new regulations announced in January 2023 by then Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra, and the second leg of tapping into the federal Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) announced in May.
With the TSA third leg today, Matier said this “unlocks everything that the government has to support us, and it just really unlocks the opportunity to bring launch clients, satellite clients, and investors from the States to take this, you know, to get more directly involved.”
The expectation now, is that as Spaceport Nova Scotia develops, it will bring jobs, including highly qualified personnel jobs, to various areas in Nova Scotia including Halifax and the Canso area where the spaceport is under development.
Matier said we should look to the fall for the first suborbital test launch. He won’t elaborate on which launch company would conduct the launch. He did say though that the TSA has been an issue when discussing what’s next “with a number of entities in the US both, both launch vehicle and investor(s).” With the question of a TSA almost complete, Matier is confident that things will move much faster now. And that includes raising more funds to get a second launch pad and needed infrastructure completed so that in the first two years of operations both launch pads are available.
Matier also pointed to another potential customer looking north for a place to launch. That being the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), in particular the U.S. Space Force. Matier referenced an open letter from the U.S. Space Force that encouraged Canada to have a spaceport. And the reason is simple. The main U.S. spaceports in Florida, and Vandenberg Space Force Base, have already had 79 launches this year which works out to a launch every three days. As the U.S. Space Force ramps up launches, including responsive launch, these spaceports are already very busy. So there is the possibility that some of those DoD launches move to Canada with a TSA in place.