The last time we had a statement from the Space Advisory Board was March 2019 in support of the new Canadian Space Strategy. At the time, Dr. Lucy Stojak, Chair of the Board, noted in her statement that “the Board recognizes that there is more work to be done,” and that “we look forward to continuing to advise, inform and support the Minister.” SpaceQ has learned that since the pandemic started the Space Advisory Board mandate has lapsed.
Since the public hasn’t heard from the Space Advisory Board (SAB) since March 2019, SpaceQ contacted Dr. Stojak and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) to learn what, if anything, the SAB has been doing since the COVID-19 pandemic was officially declared on March 11, 2020.
We didn’t hear back from Dr. Stojak, but we did hear from a spokesperson at ISED. It turns out that the last scheduled meeting with ISED Minister Bains was Tuesday, March 3, a little over a week before the pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization.
On that day, SAB member Dr. Gordon Osinski tweeted that he was “Looking forward to to our first in person meeting of 2020 for the #Space Advisory Board. Beautiful breakfast view to start the day! #CdnSpace @ISED_CA @NavdeepSBains.” Unfortunately Minister Bains schedule didn’t allow him to meet with the Board. Instead they met with Deputy Minister Simon Kennedy.
Looking forward to to our first in person meeting of 2020 for the #Space Advisory Board. Beautiful breakfast view to start the day! #CdnSpace @ISED_CA @NavdeepSBains pic.twitter.com/aBZ9Q9aTVY — Gordon Oz Osinski (@drcrater) March 3, 2020
ISED provided the following statement to SpaceQ.
“The Space Advisory Board was still active through late 2019 and 2020, and they last had an in-person meeting with our Deputy Minister this March. Since then, the Board has been providing updates to industry during these unprecedented events. The next steps for the Space Advisory Board are still being decided.”
It’s SpaceQ’s understanding in speaking with people familiar with the SAB, that the SAB has not been meeting as a group, nor have they as a group been providing updates to industry since the pandemic. The reason is simple. The two year mandate of the SAB expired in the spring and has not been renewed.
The last activity which included SAB members was the Canada – UK Space Data mission in early March.
It’s our understanding that while the Minister is still supportive of the space program and the SAB, the pandemic has lowered the priority of the space file. As the ISED statement notes, the Minister has yet to decide what if anything a SAB will do. A new SAB could see some members leave and possibly a call for new members.
With the SAB sidelined, and the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) focused on helping its aeronautic members, space industry, in particular small businesses, are left without an advocate during the pandemic.
Update: The story was updated to include the fact the SAB met with Deputy Minister Simon Kennedy on March 3.