Debates of April 28th, 2026

Canadian Space Launch Act

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate the member's big contribution on this topic today, particularly about the uneasy relationship the government has with MLS. It seems crazy to me that something that is rented for $13,500 per year is effectively receiving $55,000 a day from the Government of Canada. Bear in mind that this property is owned by the Province of Nova Scotia.

There are other key elements in this bill that would allow the minister to use total discretion in who he can give permits to and under what terms. Does the member feel that this will benefit insiders, well-connected Liberals and lobbyists?

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we agree that what we are experiencing here is unbelievable. A piece of land that was being leased for $13,000 a year is now being subleased for $20 million a year. If we look up the owners of Maritime Launch Services, it turns out that they are all well connected to the government.

All we are asking for is transparency. Clearly, there has been no transparency from the start of this Parliament. There has been no collaboration either. Just yesterday, we witnessed an unprecedented total breakdown in collaboration and a refusal to answer questions.

The answer is that Bill C-28 is not paving the way for greater trust in our institutions. On the contrary, it is undermining trust, because paying $20 million for a piece of vacant land that is being leased for $13,000 a year and is not owned by the federal government is bound to sap the public's trust.

[Marianne Dandurand, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I was listening to my colleague respond to his riding neighbour about measures that are not helping the people in his riding.

I would like to know whether the people in his riding have benefited from or will benefit from the Canada groceries and essentials benefit or the Canadian dental care plan. These are immediate affordability measures. Have his constituents spoken to him about those programs, and are they receiving those benefits?

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would love to share what my constituents and other Quebeckers are telling me. They are fed up with the empty promises they keep hearing from this government, which takes their tax dollars, spends it on all kinds of ideological projects and leaves them with less in their pockets. The Liberals then tell them not to worry, because they are going to get a bit of money back, to make things a little easier. Clearly, people are struggling to make ends meet, so they are going to take the cheque. In any case, it is basically their own money being returned to them.

Can members guess what people really want? They want to keep their money in their pockets. They want to be able to make it through the month, paying for groceries, gas and their mortgage or rent. That is what they want.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed my colleague's clear and precise remarks. He takes care to explain things well using concrete examples.

This government has a tendency to define terms in regulations. That is what happened with Bill C‑2. It happened with Bill C‑22. Now it is happening with Bill C‑28. It tends to nail down definitions in regulations instead of bills. Can my colleague explain what reasons the government might have for doing that?

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is a very good question.

It is simple. The Liberals just want things to happen how they want, when they want and the way they want. Anyone who does not think like them is guilty of obstruction.

That is my answer, and that is what the government has been showing us for almost a year now.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin.

Today I rise in support of legislation that will drive a level of investment in Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish that has not been seen in generations. The future of the space industry in Canso holds tremendous potential for our riding and our province. Over the next few minutes, I will speak to the deeply positive impacts that Bill C-28 would have.

First, I would like to start off with a little bit of gratitude for our government and for our federal government making a historic, $200-million investment in Nova Scotia, in my riding, to help establish a spaceport in Nova Scotia as a cornerstone of Canada's future satellite launches. This investment will create good jobs, support innovation and grow Atlantic Canada's role in a fast-growing global industry. It will also help us rely less on foreign launch sites and build a stronger, more sovereign role in getting satellites into space.

From coast to coast to coast, Canadians are turning ambition into capability, developing launch vehicles and spaceports, refining the engines that will lift them and building the satellites that will strengthen our economy and protect our sovereignty. These innovators are ready. Their talent is world-class, but they are held back, not by a lack of vision or capability, but by the absence of a modern legal framework that allows them to launch from home.

Today, with the Canadian space launch act, we hand them the key. Today, we unleash the innovation engine. Innovation is in our DNA, but innovators need the right conditions to thrive, a framework that matches the scale of their ambition, which is what this legislation would provide.

The global space economy is projected to grow more than 200% by 2032. Here at home, Canada's space sector workforce grew by almost 6% in 2023, reaching an all-time high. Canadians are ready to compete and lead in this rapidly expanding market, and this legislation will give them the clear framework they need to do it.

Without a domestic legal regime, Canadian companies face stark choices: wait indefinitely or take their innovation and jobs abroad. That is a choice this legislation ensures they would never face.

Why does launch matter so much? Satellites are critical infrastructure woven into daily life. When a ship threads through fog in the St. Lawrence, when paramedics locate a caller in seconds, when communities in the north rely on satellite links for school and telehealth, when utilities and banks synchronize time across vast networks or when our armed forces secure communications, maintain situational awareness, navigate environments and collect intelligence, each of these everyday capabilities depends on space-based assets overhead.

Satellites are only as reliable as our ability to launch, maintain, defend and replace them. Sovereign launch capability is not a luxury, but a strategic necessity.

Let me speak directly about the innovators who are the human face of this act.

NordSpace, headquartered in Ontario and operating in Newfoundland and Labrador, is advancing plans for a commercial spaceport that would create high-skilled jobs, attract investments and inspire the next generation of Canadian engineers and scientists to see rocket launch from Canadian soil.

Based in Toronto, Canada Rocket Company is helping to reverse the brain drain by bringing skilled Canadians home to build cutting-edge light- and medium-lift rockets, advancing Canada's objective of securing reliable access to space.

Reaction Dynamics, headquartered in Quebec, is developing advanced infrastructure-light launch vehicles that position Canada at the forefront of environmentally responsible access to space: nimble, sustainable and globally competitive.

In my home riding, Maritime Launch Services is building one of Canada's first spaceports in Canso. Currently under construction and set to be built by 2028, it is expected to contribute $300 million to our GDP annually. Once fully operational, it will create 1,600 jobs in my riding. I want to repeat that: 1,600 jobs in rural Nova Scotia. That is an amazing thing, and I have so much gratitude for that.

This project will deliver enormous economic opportunities for our communities and families. It will contribute to rural economic development, drive tourism and show the world that Nova Scotians can get big things done.

That is why I am shocked that the Conservative leader took to Elon Musk's social media company to oppose this competing commercial spaceport project.

It is not surprising that there are no Conservatives in Nova Scotia as MPs, because every time a company decides to invest in our province, the Conservatives launch a crusade to kill the jobs, investments and economic benefits for Nova Scotians. We saw it when they opposed legislation, supported by the Progressive Conservative government, to build offshore wind. Thankfully, we did not let them block billions in investment, thousands of jobs, economic opportunities for first nations and our ability to be a renewable energy superpower. We saw it when they opposed the Mersey River renewable project, which would allow Nova Scotians to switch off Nova Scotia power to a new provider. Now they are opposing Nova Scotia's ambitions to be a leader in Canada's commercial space industry, which is expected to be worth $40 billion.

With spaceport Nova Scotia, when Nova Scotians look to the stars, they will know that our province contributed to the future of space, built and led right here in Canada.

More than 20% of our current economy relies on satellites. In Nova Scotia, we want to continue to be at the forefront of building our economy and these satellites. These companies are proof that Canadian innovation is alive from coast to coast to coast and ready to compete if we give it the framework. This legislation is their launch pad.

Atlantic Canada's competitive advantages for commercial space launches are enormous. Our northern geography provides direct access to several desirable orbits essential for earth observation, climate monitoring and defence. Long coastlines offer the ability to launch safely over water, and our border with the United States, the world's largest satellite producer, means seamless supply chain integration. As the global launch infrastructure approaches capacity, international companies are seeking stable alternatives. Canada is positioned to be that destination, but only with the legal framework to welcome them.

This legislation is about unleashing Canadians' potential, telling the entrepreneurs across Canada that their government believes in them and is giving them the tools to succeed. Supporting this act means supporting engineers perfecting rocket engines in Sherbrooke, construction workers building launch pads in Nova Scotia, communities that will grow around Canada's spaceport, and every scientist, technician and innovator ready to write the next chapter of our space story. All that remains is for this House to say yes, to ignite the innovation engine, empower Canadian entrepreneurs and ensure that the next rocket to leave Canadian soil carries the full weight of Canadian law, Canadian ambition and Canadian pride.

Canada's innovators and economy are ready for us to finally take to the stars, on our own terms, and I am happy to see that happening.

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, why is the government asking Parliament to approve a discretionary regulatory framework after it has already handed $200 million to a specific spaceport project on subleased land that could have been bought for a fraction of the cost? Is the principle of Bill C-28 really just about writing a blank cheque to Liberal insiders, while leaving taxpayers to cover the unlimited liability?

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, NS]

Mr. Speaker, what we really need to concentrate on is the fact that Canada is the only country in the G7 without sovereign space launch capabilities. It is really important for us to focus on our safety, our security and our sovereignty moving forward. For far too long, we have relied on our partners to help us in this area. It is time for Canada to lead. It is time for Canada to innovate, and I am proud that my riding is at the forefront of ensuring that this happens. Supporting this legislation ensures that we move forward with innovation and building big things in Canada.

[Wade Grant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my dear friend's tremendous speech. I know that he is a proud Nova Scotian. I know he is a proud Canadian. Like me, he probably grew up thinking about going to space and always dreaming of being an astronaut. Unfortunately, things changed for me, but we do now have this bill on the floor.

I want to talk a bit about the member's beautiful riding. I have never been there, but I know I will be there one day. He talked about the investment that this could bring to his riding. He talked about his constituents. He is a proud indigenous member as well. What can investments like this in his riding provide for indigenous communities and indigenous people in his riding?

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, NS]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to ensuring that when we build, we are looking through not only a rural lens, but also one of indigenous participation. In moving forward, we not only expect projects that advance indigenous interests, but we expect meaningful equity, meaningful partnership and meaningful participation. We believe that with this spaceport, we would see 1,600 jobs in a rural area that has five first nations communities around it. We expect them to be full partners in the jobs and in the ability to move forward with partnership, with participation and with equity.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, Nova Scotia is a big beneficiary. Indeed, all of Canada is, because expanding our space industry also impacts the Canadian Forces, in particular the aerospace industry, something I have talked a great deal about. Our aerospace industry provides thousands of jobs. I am thinking of the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba, all of which have aerospace industry. In fact, Magellan Aerospace in Winnipeg produces satellites. It would be nice to be able to have satellites launched in Nova Scotia. It is a national benefit. This legislation is an important step. I wonder if the member could provide his thoughts on that.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the opportunity to talk about what the capabilities would be in Nova Scotia in the future with this spaceport. As a big fan of Star Trek growing up, I always wanted to say that Canada is going to boldly go where no man has gone before. With this technology and with this investment, our riding and our province have the ability to lead, and I look forward to being a part of that. I look forward to all of the potential, the growth, the technology and the innovation that would come out of Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish. It is a great time to be from that riding, and it is a great time to be a Nova Scotian.

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin not with statistics, but with a few quiet moments from everyday life in Canada.

A parent in Laval checks the weather on their phone before dropping their child off at school. A paramedic in Thunder Bay is guided to a highway accident using GPS. A farmer near Lethbridge, Alberta, checks satellite data on soil moisture to decide where to irrigate. A grandmother in Iqaluit sees her grandchildren's faces during a video call 2,000 km away. Each of these moments is made possible by satellites. Space is not an abstract concept. It is woven into the daily lives of every Canadian, and the Canadian space launch act will help us protect and strengthen the infrastructure behind these moments.

Canada's contributions to space are a source of national pride. Our astronauts, from Marc Garneau to Jeremy Hansen, have inspired and continue to inspire generations. Our legacy extends beyond the people we have sent into space. From robotics to earth observation and satellite communications, Canada has always contributed to space, and space has always contributed to Canada. It is a mutual connection.

As we have all seen and heard, the space sector is undergoing a major transformation. Commercial investment in space technology is quickly outpacing government investment. There are tremendous opportunities here. However, Canada is the only G7 country without sovereign launch capabilities. Without that, our industries remain dependent on foreign suppliers, which increases costs, lengthens lead times and creates uncertainty. This bill is the first step in changing that unfortunate situation.

I want to come back to these moments in daily life because they are at the heart of the matter. When Canadians use their phones to get directions, the satellites that guide the signal do not come from a cell tower but from a constellation of objects orbiting thousands of kilometres above the earth. When farmers decide when to plant their crops, satellites provide the images that map crop health row by row, which helps to save water, reduce the use of chemicals and feed more people with less waste.

Whether we are monitoring wildfires in British Columbia or Quebec, tracking maritime traffic in the Arctic or responding to floods, satellites are key to our emergency response. They provide real-time imagery that saves lives and protects property. When planes cross the North Atlantic, satellites ensure communication between the pilots and air traffic controllers. Without this coverage, the safety margins we take for granted would not exist.

When a student in Nunavut returns an online assignment, or when a nurse in an isolated community consults a specialist in Ottawa, satellites bridge the distance. For many Canadians, satellite connectivity is their only means of connecting online. When our armed forces patrol the Arctic, participate in NATO missions or support humanitarian operations, satellites provide the communications, navigation and intelligence they depend on every day.

Satellites are critical infrastructure to the same degree as roads, ports and electrical grids. However, their reliability depends on our ability to launch, maintain, protect and replace them. That is why this bill is important.

Canada is in a particularly good position to perform launches. Our northern geography provides direct access to the polar orbits essential for earth observation, climate tracking and Arctic surveillance. Our long coastlines provide safe, open‑water launch corridors. Our stable governance, predictable regulations, skilled workforce and shared border with the United States allow for integrated supply chains with the world's largest space economy. Launching from Canada provides a competitive advantage.

The space sector is contested. Our allies are investing heavily in space defence and expect Canada to do the same. When space-based systems can be disrupted or neutralized, investment is not a luxury; it is a strategic necessity to be able to do it here at home.

This bill responds to a long-standing request from the Canadian space sector. It wants us to make sensible rules for launch and re-entry and enable it to compete. Bill C‑28 establishes the permanent framework that will enable Canada to build a modern, responsible regulatory system for launch and re-entry, one designed with the actual operations of these sectors in mind.

This bill takes a modern, risk-based approach to safety. Users must carry insurance and demonstrate financial responsibility before any vehicle leaves the launch pad. Our indemnification framework reflects international best practices. No country has ever had to use it. This regulatory framework works because it is rigorous.

In closing, I want to go back to the scenes from everyday life that I touched on at the beginning of my speech. This bill is about protecting the infrastructure that Canadians depend on. Here are a few examples: the weather forecasts that people check daily before going outside, the GPS that guides paramedics, the satellite images that help farmers feed the country and the Internet connection that keeps grandmothers in touch with their grandchildren across the Arctic.

That is what Bill C-28 protects, that is what it builds and that is why I am asking all members of the House to support Bill C-28, the Canadian space launch act, at second reading.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the member mentioned Marc Garneau. I think this is important, because many of us in the House knew him. In addition to his successful career in the navy, he ended up leading the Canadian Space Agency. Later on he became a Liberal member of Parliament and eventually a minister. I remember Mr. Garneau very well. When I first came to the House, we may have had our political differences, but I have always believed him to be a hero, and I do believe we need to honour our veterans and honour public service. I thank the member opposite for mentioning the service of Marc Garneau.

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank our esteemed colleague for mentioning Marc Garneau, who was indeed an exceptional Quebecker and an exceptional Canadian. Duty was very important to Mr. Garneau. I thank my colleague for pointing that out.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I would join others in recognizing Mr. Marc Garneau for being an outstanding true Canadian. In fact, it would be nice to have his name associated with Canada's first launch pad.

Quite frankly, I look at the legislation as a very important stepping stone for our nation. We talk about building Canada strong for all, and we talk about security, having a launch pad and being able to support industries. The province of Quebec has a dynamic aerospace industry, as Winnipeg does and the province of Ontario does. We have our Canadian Forces. All these industries would benefit immensely. There are tens of thousands of potential jobs on the horizon and contributions to Canada's GDP. The legislation is a very important aspect of the government's agenda.

Could the member comment on why it is so important that we do move full steam ahead with this industry? It means so much to our nation in many different ways.

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question. Yes, there would be many industrial benefits from this industry, and with the legislation I think we would contribute to accelerating those industrial benefits.

More than that, it is also a question of sovereignty and a question of national security, to have the ability in Canada to do this from Canada. It is hugely important from a point of view of maintaining and assuring our sovereignty over our vast territory.

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in a specialized industry like space, the risk of regulatory capture is high. Why are the criteria for approval and indemnity not written in law? Is it because the minister wants the power to reward well-connected firms behind closed doors, without a single second of parliamentary oversight?

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, no, it is not that at all. What we are hoping to achieve with the legislation is to be practical, to be pragmatic and to be able to move quickly. There are sufficient Canadian companies interested in and capable of doing this. It is very important that we do this with Canadian companies and for Canadian companies.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

Mr. Speaker, when I questioned the minister earlier this morning about the gaps in the bill when it comes to national security, he said not to worry and that we would be working with the Canadian Space Agency. However, the Canadian Space Agency does not do national security or intelligence, nor does it have a mandate to do so. CSIS is not included in the bill, and neither is the RCMP. Does the member believe that there needs to be a solid reprisal or a change to the bill to address this?

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I think those kinds of issues would be well discussed in the parliamentary committee.

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with my Conservative colleague, the member for Souris—Moose Mountain.

Canada should be a leader in space. I will admit that this is something that has fascinated me since I was a kid. Like many Canadians, I grew up watching Star Trek and imagining what the future could look like beyond our planet. That sense of wonder is shared by many Canadians and has helped drive what we have achieved in space.

In 1962, under former Conservative prime minister John Diefenbaker, Alouette I made Canada the third country in the world to design and build its own satellite. Since then, Canadians have built on that legacy. Astronauts such as Roberta Bondar and Chris Hadfield have carried our flag into orbit. Canadian innovation gave the world the Canadarm. More recently, Canada played a key role in the Artemis II mission, with Jeremy Hansen taking part in the historic journey of circling the moon and returning to earth. It is a powerful example of what we can achieve through partnership, while also reminding us why strengthening our own capabilities matters.

Let me be clear that Conservatives support building Canada's space capabilities. We support sovereignty. We support protecting Canada's national security. We support Canadian workers, engineers and innovators competing in a growing global space economy.

Bill C-28 speaks to a real opportunity. Canada is the only G7 country without domestic launch capability. That is a gap and a chance to lead. If done properly, this could strengthen our economy, reinforce our sovereignty and position Canada as a serious player in the next generation of space activity.

One day, I would love to see places like the London International Airport play a role in that future. We have strong infrastructure and a skilled workforce. That may be further down the road, but it reflects the kind of ambition we should have as a country. However, ambition alone is not strong enough, because the question before us is not whether Canada should participate in space, but whether this bill would set us up to do it in the right way.

That is where the concerns arise, because as it stands, Bill C-28 would put too much power in the hands of the minister without leaving key rules and safeguards to be worked out later. In plain language, it asks Canadians to accept the framework first and trust the rules, which will come later. That is not how we build durable policy. It is how we create a system that functions like a blank cheque.

This bill would not even clearly define what a launch is. Instead, it would push those basic rules off to be decided later. At the same time, it would give the minister broad control over who gets approved, who gets denied and what conditions apply. It would allow the minister to change the financial rules and protect companies from liability. In some cases, it would limit the ways decisions could be appealed or reviewed independently.

What we are left with is a framework that would be flexible where it should be firm and discretionary where it should be accountable. That would be concerning on its own, but Canadians are already asking a more immediate question: How is it that, what is, today, little more than a gravel lot and a concrete pad on Crown land, which was leased for $13,500 a year, adds up to a $200-million federal agreement before Parliament has even been asked to approve the framework governing it?

At its core, this is a question about whether Parliament sets the rules or whether those rules are written later behind closed doors. Who set that price? What valuation was used? Was there a competitive process? What exactly are taxpayers receiving in return? Who carries the risk if this project does not deliver?

Canadians are not funding a finished asset. They are funding a project still under development in a market that remains uncertain. That makes getting this right even more important.

This is where the broader concern comes into focus, because this is not an isolated situation. We have seen this pattern before. With ArriveCAN, what began as a simple app, originally estimated at about $80,000, ballooned to nearly $60 million, which is roughly 750 times over budget. A well-connected firm benefited from a process that lacked transparency, and Canadians were left with the bill.

More recently, we are seeing a $300-million e-prescribing program, PrescribeIT, come under serious scrutiny. After nearly a decade, it is used for less than 5% of prescriptions, and key questions remain about where the money went and who benefited.

These are different files and different departments, but it is the same Liberal team and the same underlying problem, which is large commitments of public money, limited transparency and unclear outcomes. At the end of it, Canadians are left asking what exactly they paid for. These are just a few of the many examples Canadians have become used to.

From the SNC-Lavalin affair, to the WE Charity scandal and the green slush fund, there is a reason Canadians are not comfortable handing any government a blank cheque. This matters because Bill C-28 is not being introduced in a vacuum. It is being introduced in a context where trust in how large public projects are managed has been eroded. When a bill proposes to give broad power to ministers, to leave key rules for later and to move forward without clear safeguards, Canadians are right to be cautious.

This is also a national security issue. Space is no longer just about exploration. It is about communication, surveillance, navigation, defence and sovereignty. Any general launch system must include strong screening, clear national security oversight and strong protections against foreign influence, particularly when it comes to our Arctic and other sensitive regions—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Unfortunately, I must interrupt the member, but he will be able to continue after question period.

National Day of Mourning

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on National Day of Mourning, we honour those who went to work and never came home. Every year, hundreds of Canadian workers are killed on the job and hundreds of thousands more are injured or become sick, left to fight for the compensation they have already earned.

These workers are parents, daughters, sons and neighbours. They are the people who keep our country running, and right now, their lives are worth less to the government than a balance sheet. Labour protections are being gutted while unions are being undermined and workers who speak up are being pushed out.

New Democrats have always stood with workers. We come from workers. We are the party of workers. On this Day of Mourning, we know that mourning without action is not enough. The greatest tribute we can pay to the fallen is to make sure that the living are protected, so today, we mourn the dead and fight like hell for the living.