The Prime Minister’s Office finally released the mandate letters for cabinet ministers, including that of ISED Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
Minister Champagne’s mandate letter is long and broad in scope. And while it does not directly mention the space sector, there are several items which encompass the space community.
Here’s some of the results expected of the Minister.
- With the support of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Natural Resources, lead the implementation of the Net Zero Accelerator Initiative, anchored in a robust, horizontal governance structure and a clear long-term investment strategy to support the strategic review of large-scale investments targeting key industrial sectors across all regions in order to drive industrial transition and significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions on a scale consistent with achieving Canada’s climate goals and meaningfully transform Canadian industry to lead and compete in a net-zero emissions future.
- Work with the Minister of Natural Resources to establish a global centre for excellence on methane detection and elimination.
GHGSat is a leader in Canada and internationally in detecting greenhouse gas emissions from space and to a lesser extent by plane. The way is open for others to innovate in this space using data rom assets in space or creating new sensors.
- Accelerate broadband delivery by implementing a “use it or lose it” approach to require those that have purchased rights to build broadband to meet broadband access milestones or risk losing their spectrum rights.
While not directly aimed at Telesat, this is a clear push to get broadband into more households. With substantial financing in place including government support, and taking into account supply chain issues, Telesat should start to deliver broadband from LEO to its customers in 2023.
- Support the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness to develop a climate data strategy to ensure that the private sector and communities have access to data to inform planning and infrastructure investments.
To have a climate data strategy you’re going to need data, including Earth observation (EO) data. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is working on its EO plan. Canada lacks EO assets in space and this presents a clear opportunity for Canadian organizations.
- Support the Mines to Mobility Strategy by attracting anchor investments in key areas like minerals processing, cell manufacturing and zero-emissions vehicle parts and assembly manufacturing, and use all tools, including the Investment Canada Act, to ensure the protection and development of our critical minerals. This will include working with the Minister of Natural Resources to develop and launch a Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy to position Canada at the forefront of critical mineral exploration, extraction, processing and manufacturing, as a global leader in the production of batteries, and other clean and digital technologies, as well as to develop a sustainable battery innovation and industrial ecosystem in Canada, including to establish Canada as a global leader in battery manufacturing, recycling and reuse.
A Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy will build upon Natural Resources Canada’s Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan announced in March of 2020. That plan includes space as a component. There’s an ongoing opportunity here to innovate technologies for terrestrial use and eventually for the Moon and asteroids.
- Advance the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy and additional measures, such as advancing standards and continuing to lead international efforts around coordination, to support artificial intelligence innovations and research in Canada.
There’s a natural fit for AI in space, something the space community is working on as evidenced in the first AIxSPACE conference held early this year.
- Launch a National Quantum Strategy to amplify Canada’s strength in quantum research and grow our quantum-ready technologies, companies and talent.
Quantum technology has the potential to disrupt every sector. So investing resources in this area makes sense. Next year we could see two Quantum space assets launched with Canadian involvement. The first is the U.S. Department of Defense QUEYSSAT payload which includes participation by the Canadian Department of Defence. This shouldn’t be confused with the CSA sponsored effort, the Quantum EncrYption and Science Satellite (QEYSSat) mission. That satellite was notionally scheduled to launch in late 2022 but we haven’t seen it manifested on a launch as of yet.
- Develop a new approach to support high-risk/high-reward transformative research and development to unleash bold new research ideas, drive technological breakthroughs, protect Canada’s competitive advantage and help Canadian companies grow and create highly skilled jobs. In moving forward with a uniquely Canadian approach modeled on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), work with the Minister of Health to develop a plan to modernize the federal research funding ecosystem to maximize the impact of investments in both research excellence and downstream innovation, with a particular focus on the relationships among the federal research granting agencies and the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of a DARPA like program being considered for Canada. If a program is developed and provided with adequate funding then we might see some innovate technologies proposed which might not otherwise be funded by the CSA.
- Add 1,000 Canada Research Chairs to help attract and retain top talent at Canadian universities and support graduate research, with a focus on improving gender and racial equity among faculty, promoting interdisciplinary research and reinforcing Canada’s world-leading capabilities in life sciences and bio-medical research.
That’s a lot of research chairs and some will no doubt be in support space activities.
- Support the Chief Science Advisor in their work to bolster the capacity and increase the coordination of the use of science across government.
So more funding for science coordination across departments. Sound good if it produces results.
- Continue to support the economic growth and recovery of Canada’s traditionally strong industries, including but not limited to automotive, aerospace, natural resources and agri-food, to increase productivity and innovation, and to strengthen the manufacturing base of Canada.
Pretty generic statement, but hey aerospace is in there.