Science and Research Committee on March 26th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I call this meeting to order. We are resuming meeting number 30 of the Standing Committee on Science and Research in public. It was suspended on March 26.

MP Baldinelli.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON]

Madam Chair, thank you for this opportunity.

I tabled a notice of motion on Friday afternoon, and I'd like to speak to that now if I could. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to table the motion so that all of us collectively, as the science committee, can recognize the achievements of the Artemis II mission and its crew, who successfully returned home to planet earth on Friday evening.

Like many Canadians, my family and I were glued to our television sets, watching the re-entry of the Artemis crew. I'm not sure if others felt the same way, but as I kept watching the spacecraft descend at rapidly increasing speeds, I kept wondering why no parachutes were being deployed. Eventually they would be, and then the successful splashdown was achieved.

The success of the Artemis mission is a testament to scientific discovery and what it can mean for all of us. As Winston Churchill once said, “The only limits to human progress are those that are made by our own shortcomings. Science is ready to extend the frontiers of every country without injury to the rights of others and to increase the well-being of every people at the expense of none.”

With that, I would like to seek my colleagues' support for the following motion:

That the Standing Committee on Science and Research recognize and commend the successful advancements of the Artemis II mission as a significant milestone in space exploration and scientific collaboration; that the Committee congratulate all partners involved, including the Canadian Space Agency and NASA; that the Committee extend its sincere congratulations and recognition to crew members Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch; and that the Committee recognize Canadian Jeremy Hansen’s participation as highlighting Canada’s continued leadership and contributions to space exploration, science, and research.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, MP Baldinelli.

We have a motion on the floor.

I have a speaking list with MP Ho and then MP Noormohamed.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'll keep it short. Today is a special day at the science and research committee. Last week marked a truly historic moment as we welcomed home the crew of the NASA Artemis II mission, the first humans in over 50 years to journey back to the moon. This mission represents more than a technological achievement. It is a bold return to deep space exploration, a testament to what can be accomplished when free nations work together with purpose and resolve, free from the interference of elbows-up rhetoric. Canadians have every reason to be proud. Jeremy Hansen has made Canadian history as part of this extraordinary crew, carrying our flag and our values into the next frontier. This achievement reminds us of what is possible through courage, innovation and ambition.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Go ahead, MP Noormohamed.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I think that for all of us, as Canadians, last week brought a moment of incredible pride, joy and reflection. You often hear astronauts talk about something called the overview effect—the idea that there's a shift in perspective when you go out into space, look down at earth and realize that we are one interconnected humanity, that we are an interconnected set of beings. As the borders disappear, we realize how much more we have in common and how much more we have to be doing to work together.

As my friend opposite was talking about the journey and about the journey back to earth, I kept thinking about this idea that, when we are in it, we often forget how much more there is when we look outside of our own selves. I think for all Canadians, looking at the role that Jeremy Hansen played in this gave us an incredible sense of pride. He is a Canadian. There was a Canadian flag in space. However, as he pointed out, when they were all up there, they were all in this together. Nationality didn't matter. Their ethnicity and gender didn't matter. Nothing mattered. What mattered was that they shared a common purpose, a common sense of belonging and a common sense of doing this for humanity.

I think there's a tremendous lesson for all of us in these particularly trying times and moments when we often feel like we're fighting for things for all of us but like we are fighting alone. We realize that we're all in this fight together to build a better country and to build a better planet.

Hopefully the lessons that Artemis II has taught us in this moment will stay with us as the world continues to be complicated. Perhaps it will be a lesson to all of humanity that we should think about the overview effect for all of us, take a step back and ask ourselves how being intertwined and interconnected is a much more powerful and much more beneficial thing than being opposed to one another at every turn.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, MP Noormohamed.

Go ahead, MP Mahal.

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'll be brief, but I do want to recognize this moment. Artemis II is a big deal. It's not every day that we see humans go around the moon. It says a lot about what's possible when countries work together on something bigger than themselves. For Canada, having Jeremy Hansen on the crew is something we can all be proud of. It reflects years of work, investment and talent in our space sector, which is constantly delivering results.

To Jeremy Hansen and the rest of the crew, this is an extraordinary achievement. The entire country was watching and was proud of your accomplishments.

To the Canadian Space Agency and NASA, this is a strong example of partnership done right. We are proud of the role that Canada played in this mission, and we are looking forward to what comes next.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

Seeing no other members on the speaking list, as chair of the science and research committee, I'm proud to recognize the success of Artemis II, a major step forward in humanity's return to the moon. This mission is especially meaningful for Canada, as Jeremy Hansen became the first Canadian to journey around the moon. No Canadian has ever been this far from earth.

His role reflects the strength of Canada's space program and the world-class talent of our astronauts, engineers and researchers. Jeremy did not travel to the moon alone. He travelled with the work and talent of Canadian researchers and scientists who are pushing the boundaries of innovation every day here in Canada.

Artemis II shows what is possible when nations invest in science, innovation and collaboration. It inspires the next generation and reaffirms Canada's place as a global leader in discovery.

Thank you to all the members.

Seeing no other hands raised, is it the will of the committee members to adopt this motion?

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you.

Is there anything else before we suspend the meeting to go in camera for the consideration of the draft report?

I will suspend the meeting so that we can move back in camera and resume consideration of the draft report.

The meeting is suspended.

[Proceedings continue in camera]