Evidence of meeting #37 for Science and Research in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was workers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
That answers my question. Thank you very much.
Would the CASTOR project contribute to strengthening Canada's scientific and strategic sovereignty, including in relation to earth observation, Arctic surveillance, optical communication and massive data processing?
President, Canadian Space Agency
The project would have its benefits, of course.
Bloc
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
Okay.
If the decision is postponed and CASTOR is not funded, do you think Canada risks losing international partners and also missing a strategic opportunity to play a leadership role in an international space mission?
President, Canadian Space Agency
At the moment, we don't have funding for that project.
Bloc
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
I appreciate that. You say that you support it, but that the agency is split on the matter. Basically, you're asking the government to provide more funding to fund this type of project sooner rather than later. Is that correct?
President, Canadian Space Agency
I would say that the agency has a lot of big plans for its projects, but it cannot fund them all.
Bloc
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
I am trying to help you. The government has allocated $82 billion over five years for defence, but it cannot find $20 million to fund a small project like this one. When I say “small”, I am referring to the amount of money needed, not how important the project is.
You also mentioned earlier another $40 million reduction in investments for science.
Does the Canadian government recognize that space is also critical to defence and strategic sovereignty?
President, Canadian Space Agency
I think we made a good choice by investing in the James Webb Space Telescope, which was a massive project and a major mission for us, NASA and the European Space Agency.
There will be investment opportunities in the near future. The CASTOR project is one of them, but there are two others as well. Each project has its benefits. As you mentioned, the CASTOR project is entirely Canadian. The community supports it. The other project has an international component. It's a matter of making choices.
Bloc
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
What does the government say when you present these projects to it?
President, Canadian Space Agency
To date, we have not presented any to it. We are listening to the science sector.
Bloc
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
Yet you say there is a lack of funding and you are being told no.
President, Canadian Space Agency
No. We are carrying out our activities. We only move forward once we receive the funding. There's a tremendous amount of prep work. As far as I know, this project is still in the planning stage.
Bloc
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
You say it's still the case, as far as you know. I am talking to the players, and they tell me that everything is ready. The only thing missing is the money.
President, Canadian Space Agency
That's perfect, then. In that case, they should come see us.
Bloc
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
That's what they are saying. That's why I am asking you these questions. They need an answer too.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
The time is up for MP Blanchette-Joncas.
Now we will proceed to MP Ho for five minutes.
Please go ahead.
Conservative
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to go back to my previous round about the gender-based analysis done on the selection of Jeremy Hansen. Could the CSA table that? Do you have that information? Do you know if a gender-based analysis was conducted before the selection?
President, Canadian Space Agency
We can provide additional information, if you're interested, on the specific amount spent, but I would add that it's probably part of our overall recruitment strategy.
Conservative
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
I'd like to know if you could table that within 30 days, regarding whether there was a gender-based analysis conducted before the selection of Jeremy Hansen for Artemis II, as well the previous question.
Conservative
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Moving on, we learned that the Liberal government spent $200 million to sign a 10-year lease for a spaceport in Nova Scotia. You talked about this briefly, earlier.
Could you elaborate a little bit more to this committee on the partnerships involved in this deal, specifically the role played by the Ukrainian space agency and the Maritime Launch Services?
President, Canadian Space Agency
Our role is to support the broader space ecosystem. I mentioned the meeting that I was at in 2021 with the State Space Agency of Ukraine, but since then, with Spaceport Nova Scotia, we have not been involved. We're not responsible for funding Spaceport Nova Scotia—that investment was announced by the Department of National Defence. However, we have funded rocket technology. Our role is truly in the technology part of it, and also the in-space activities.
Conservative
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
The pictures of the space pad look more like an undeveloped gravel pit. Many people have been there, and it just looks like a parking lot. Do you think it's a good value for taxpayers to lease this for $200 million for 10 years?
President, Canadian Space Agency
I can't comment on that, not having seen the photo or been there recently.