Bill C-534 (Historical)

Canadian Aerospace Technology Protection Act

An Act to prohibit the transfer of certain assets and operations from MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Limited to Alliant Techsystems Incorporated

This bill was last introduced in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in September 2008.

Sponsor

Lloyd St. Amand  Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of April 9, 2008
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment provides that an existing agreement for the transfer of certain assets and operations from the Canadian aerospace company MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Limited to the United States corporation Alliant Techsystems Incorporated, and any future agreement between the same parties for a similar purpose, is of no effect unless it is approved by both Houses of Parliament.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Canadian Aerospace Technology Protection ActRoutine Proceedings

April 9th, 2008 / 3:10 p.m.
See context

Liberal

Lloyd St. Amand Liberal Brant, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-534, An Act to prohibit the transfer of certain assets and operations from MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Limited to Alliant Techsystems Incorporated.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce the bill to the House and have it seconded by the distinguished member for Kings—Hants, whose help has been most valuable.

I would be remiss if I did not also acknowledge the leadership and initiative demonstrated by the member for Ottawa—Vanier. It is essentially his leadership and concern reflected in the bill that has resulted in the bill being introduced.

With respect to the substance of the bill, the summary reads:

This enactment provides that an existing agreement for the transfer of certain assets and operations from...MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Limited to a United States corporation...and any future agreement between the same parties for a similar purpose is of no effect unless it is approved by both Houses of Parliament.

The sale of MDA to the U.S. company would substantially jeopardize Canada's technological sovereignty and, in addition, 1,900 jobs would be lost directly, with thousands of other jobs being negatively affected indirectly.

A line in the sand must at some point be drawn. Canada is not for sale. Our technological sovereignty is not for sale.

The bill would have retroactive effect. The agreement entered into between the potential buyer and the seller in January would be rendered null and void, no matter when the sale is consummated, unless the agreement has been approved by a majority vote of the House of Commons and the Senate.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)