Policy

I have been prompted to write this Paper with the publication in August of the excellent Space Advisory Board’s (SAB) report titled Consultations on Canada’s Future in Space: What We Heard. This Paper is also the result of analyzing national space policies for many years.

Canada hasn’t had a National Space Policy since 1974. Currently the government is looking to announce a new Space Strategy this fall. Recently, the Space Advisory Board released its report after concluding consultations with stakeholders. On today’s show we’ll get insights on space policy from Graham Gibbs.

Continuing with our Summer Reading Series of articles or interviews that still have some relevance today, we present the June 2012 article I wrote, In the Absence of Government Leadership Canada’s Space Sector Faces Uncertain Future from Space Quarterly Magazine. 

Today the government released the findings of the recently completed Space Advisory Board consultations on Canada’s upcoming new Space Strategy.  The Space Advisory Board report put forward two recommendations  based on six key themes.

“We’re on a cliff.” That’s how Don Osborne, President of MDA’s Information Systems in Canada, described the current status in Canada without a new space strategy in place. But before you get too alarmed, Osborne did say he’s optimistic that the government is listening, which suggests that a new meaningful space strategy is forthcoming.

On Friday, July 28 Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Minister Navdeep Bains met with the Space Advisory Board to discuss the results of the recent space strategy consultations.

While innovation is seemingly in every funding press release issued by the government, there’s little innovation happening in Ottawa’s bureaucracy, and that’s hampering business to the point that foreign investment dollars in Canada’s space sector might head for more responsive countries. Throw in an apparent government conflict of interest, and you’ve got a Made in Ottawa bureaucratic migraine for the government.

Why is the sale of Norsat all of a sudden become political fodder for the opposition parties? It’s simple really, everything is political when you’re dealing with China and a Liberal government that wants to further engage China. Add in American politics, the U.S military and you’re fuelling the political fire. But is there substance to the opposition outcry regarding the deal?

Canada’s new space strategy will not be unveiled this month as previously expected, but will be delayed until later this summer or early fall, multiple sources tell SpaceQ.

The Space Advisory Board consultation with stakeholders and the public on a future Canadian Space Strategy have come to an end and now a small subgroup of the Board is focused on writing a report to be submitted to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada sometime next week.