The Liberal government has released its 2022 Budget and it includes a few line items related to the space file.
The budget follows the release of Canadian Space Agency 2022-23 Departmental Plan released in March. That report had planned spending down 3.9% compared to the previous year. However, the budget has added new funding.
Along with new funding there is also the need to account for the rather large contract recently awarded to MDA for the Canadarm3 Phase B. That contract worth $268.9 million was not included the CSA Department Plan. The CSA did provide clarification on where the money would be coming from and it will be allocated this year.
“Although the additional budget allocated to Canadarm3 Phase B has been approved, the 2022-23 Departmental Plan does not include funds set aside for CSA in the Government of Canada’s Fiscal Framework, and it is important to note that CSA will be accessing a portion of these funds in the coming months and once approved, CSA’s reference levels will be adjusted accordingly.”
Budget 2022 – New Space Funding
Moon program and legislation
There are only a couple of references to the Canadian space program in the budget including a section on page 77 titled “Expanding Canada’s Presence in Space.”
This section speaks mainly to the already announced Moon program with $1.9 billion over 24 years.
What is new, and much needed, though few details are available yet, is amendments to legislation and expected new legislation.
“Budget 2022 announces the government’s intention to introduce legislative amendments and new legislation necessary to enable Canada’s participation in Lunar Gateway, including the ratification of the Canada-US Lunar Gateway Treaty and the construction of Canadarm3.”
Further in the document under Lunar Gateway, the proposed legislative action is listed as;
“In Budget 2022, the government proposes to introduce legislative amendments to the Criminal Code and the Government Employees Compensation Act, make consequential amendments to other Acts, and introduce new legislation necessary to enable Canada’s participation in the Lunar Gateway. Canada is one of the countries planning the Lunar Gateway—a space station in lunar orbit that will serve a variety of purposes including as a laboratory and, eventually, a stepping stone for voyages to Mars.”
Wildfire satellite monitoring system
The government is providing $169.9 million in new funding to create a wildfire satellite monitoring system. That system will build on the initial studies funded by the Canadian Space Agency WildFireSat initiative.
The new funding will be spent over 11 years, starting this year. Besides the Canadian Space Agency, Natural Resources Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada are working on the system.