Debates of June 8th, 2026

Concurrence in Vote 5—Department of National Defence

[Marilyn Gladu, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague outlined a lot of the investments in defence that our government is making, but there are also job impacts and positive impacts for the economy. Could she talk a bit about how these defence investments may impact those?

[Kristina Tesser Derksen, Liberal, Milton East—Halton Hills South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, certainly, when the government invests in defence, it invests in people. It invests in Canadians. I am sure that all of us can go out into our ridings and talk to different businesses that have a role to play in the defence sector. There are many more in my riding than I even realized, now that I have been going out and talking about the great investments our government has been making.

I am confident that we are going to see a real, positive upswing in the number of people and businesses coming forward that are able to play a role in, contribute to and benefit from this great investment our government has made.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, under international space law, Canada is the launching state and carries the full weight of legal and financial liability for any launch-related disasters. Why are Canadian taxpayers being forced to socialize the risk of a catastrophic failure, while the potential financial gains are privatized for the benefit of corporate lobbyists and shareholders?

[Kristina Tesser Derksen, Liberal, Milton East—Halton Hills South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, what a disappointment that question was from my colleague.

Today, in the gallery, we had Colonel Jeremy Hansen, who is the pride of the Canadian Space Agency and the first Canadian to venture beyond the moon. The investments we make in space and innovation to establish Canada's role in this new and growing sector are absolutely critical and pivotal to making our place in the world.

I hope all members in this chamber will support our astronauts and innovation in the space sector.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I mentioned a project earlier that we support. It involves setting up a reserve unit in the northern part of the Lac-Saint-Jean region. Right now, the Department of National Defence is looking to spend more money and recruit more people.

If I pass the file on to my colleague, could she put in a good word for me and lend her support to the reserve unit project in Saint‑Félicien?

[Kristina Tesser Derksen, Liberal, Milton East—Halton Hills South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure how much clout I would have as a humble backbencher at this point, but I am certainly happy to explore any suggestions my hon. colleagues send over to me, and I'm happy to discuss them at any time. Our government is about collaboration and building Canada strong with the help of all members of this House.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with my colleague, the member for Terra Nova—The Peninsulas.

I rise in strong support of the amendment put forward by my colleague, the member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes to stop the payment of 20 million tax dollars that would otherwise flow to Maritime Launch Services, pursuant to the government's main estimates.

These 20 million tax dollars are part of the 10-year, $200-million lease the Liberals entered into with Maritime Launch Services to lease land that consists of a concrete slab and a gravel parking lot. “Do not worry,” say the Liberals. “It is not just any gravel parking lot. It is not just any concrete slab. It is the site of Canada's new sovereign spaceport.”

Needless to say, there are all sorts of questions surrounding this $200-million lease. They are questions that the Liberals have refused to be transparent about. In fact, the Liberals, at virtually every turn, have obstructed and refused to answer the most basic of questions. It is not only that. They have hidden the lease from Canadians. They do not want Canadians to know where 200 million tax dollars are going.

What sorts of questions are there in relation to this $200-million lease? To begin with, the government could acquire land for the site of the spaceport in the Canso area for approximately $2.5 million, but instead, the government is leasing land for $20 million a year at a cost of 200 million tax dollars over the span of 10 years. How does that make sense?

For Maritime Launch Services, it is a pretty good deal. Guess why. It does not own the land. It leases the land from the Province of Nova Scotia for $13,500 a year and then flips it to Ottawa at a 1,300% profit. It must be nice to be Maritime Launch Services. It is not so nice for everyday taxpayers.

One might say Maritime Launch Services brings a certain level of sophistication and a certain level of expertise in developing Canada's supposedly first sovereign spaceport, but then the question becomes, “What is Maritime Launch Services?” It turns out that Maritime Launch Services is nothing more than a two-bit, six-person company. Despite its name, Maritime Launch Services does not have a history of launching much of anything. It has been in business for 10 years now and it has launched precisely nothing, zilch, into space.

To be kind to Maritime Launch Services, in the span of two years, it has had two suborbital rocket launches, one of which was a model rocket from York University's model rocket club. Again, it was a model rocket from a university's model rocket club. This is the company the Liberals are entrusting to develop Canada's first sovereign spaceport. They have to be kidding.

The chair of the board is Sasha Jacob. He has a history, and it is not a pretty history, of securities infractions. Indeed, he has the dubious distinction of being fined $100,000 for securities infractions and securities irregularities. That is not good, to say the least. It begs the question: Why are the Liberals doing business with and handing $200 million to a company whose chair was fined $100,000 for securities infractions?

Given that the scope of the business of Maritime Launch Services involves collaborating with university model rocket clubs, it is no surprise, perhaps, that Maritime Launch Services has not exactly been the most successful company and not the most successful business. In fact, their 2025 financial statements report a massive loss of $47 million and revenue under $15,000. In fact, the independent auditor's report stated that “material uncertainty [exists] that may cast significant doubt as to whether the Company will have the ability to continue as a going concern.”

In other words, Maritime Launch Services was on the verge of bankruptcy, that is, until the Liberals bailed it out with this sweetheart $200-million 10-year lease on land that Maritime Launch Services does not even own. It really begs the question: How is it possible that a company that has six employees, that has not launched anything into space, that has a chair of the board with securities infractions and that was on the verge of bankruptcy managed to land a $200-million lease with the federal government on land that they do not even own and which consists of a concrete slab and a gravel parking lot?

The answer to that, of course, with the Liberals, is that Maritime Launch Services is comfortably associated with none other than Liberal insiders. The chair of the board who I referenced, Mr. Jacob, is associated with major Liberal insider Gerald Butts. There is then Stephen McNeil, the former Liberal premier of Nova Scotia, who conveniently sits on the advisory board of Maritime Launch Services.

There is the chief lobbyist for Maritime Launch Services, who is none other than a former senior staffer to the Minister of Justice, whose riding happens to be situated next to the launch site. Perhaps that explains how Maritime Launch Services got this sweetheart lease.

The lease is not about developing Canada's first sovereign spaceport. It is about Liberal insiders getting rich while taxpayers foot the bill. That is precisely what has happened up until now. I say that because another question is that the subject lease, even though it was entered into on April 1 of this year, was backdated to April 1, 2025.

Why was the lease backdated to 2025? The effect of backdating was for the Liberals to then immediately funnel $20 million to Maritime Launch Services, to bail out the nearly bankrupt company.

Guess what happened? The chair of the board, Mr. Jacob, immediately turned around and sold $3 million of previously worthless shares, pocketing a cool $1.8 million. It must be nice to be Mr. Jacob. It must be nice to be a Liberal insider. It sounds like one big pump and dump scheme to me.

Given the questions and the cloud that hangs over Maritime Launch Services, and the Liberals' complete lack of transparency, it is important that $20 million of hard-earned tax dollars do not go to Maritime Launch Services until those basic questions are answered and the air—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

Questions and comments, the hon. parliamentary secretary to the government House leader.

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

Mr. Speaker, if we listen to the Conservatives, we would think that it is all about raw land, which is not the case. I do not know what it is they have against the Maritimes having a launch pad. It is in a naturally good position because of the ocean, which is a very important aspect to it. It is not just the raw land. We have to build the launch pad and the infrastructure, 90% of which will be built by Canadians.

The Conservatives try to give this impression that there is $200 million just going for x when it actually does a lot more than that. I wonder if the member would concede that it is more than just a piece of raw land that is being leased.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, let us look at what has happened since the lease was entered into. There has been no rocket launch and no construction. All there is is a concrete slab and a gravel parking lot. However, someone got rich, and it happens to be Mr. Jacob, who sold three million shares, walking away with $1.8 million.

Why did the Liberals not, for example, insist upon a lock-up agreement, which would be the standard practice, instead of allowing the chair of a nearly bankrupt company to walk away with $1.8 million?

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, whom I hold in high regard and who, I would point out, knows his figures. Whenever he looks closely at public finances, we can always be sure that he will uncover wasteful spending by this federal government, as he demonstrated in his speech.

One of the most glaring examples of wasteful government spending was when the federal government used the money from the carbon tax, which it had scrapped, to issue a rebate. Quebec had paid for that, but it never received anything in return.

Does my colleague agree that providing a rebate of a tax that was never paid is a clear example of wasting public funds? I would like my colleague to answer this very specific question.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I understand the issue the member has raised. It underscores what a debacle and poorly thought-out policy the carbon tax was from start to finish that the Liberal government kept in place for years, which Conservatives called on it to abolish. Of course, it technically has scrapped the consumer carbon tax, but has maintained a hidden industrial carbon tax that is increasing the cost of everything. Therefore, yes, I agree that it underscores total Liberal incompetence and mismanagement.

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

Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals talk about the Maritime Launch Services lease they say it is an investment, that somehow it is giving us space sovereignty within Canada.

When Norway sought to create its own spaceport, it partnered with the private sector. However, for approximately $60 million of today's Canadian dollars it was able to own 90% of the asset and partner with a private sector proponent.

What we are saying here is that the $200 million going to an asset that we will never own, and for which 60% of the shares are unaccounted for as we do not know who owns them, is a big mistake. It is not a solution, but a bad deal for taxpayers.

What does the member have to say with respect to that?

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals say that it is an investment, it is indeed an investment. It is an investment in Liberal insiders, and Mr. Jacob made off like a bandit in a matter of weeks upon the Liberals entering this lease.

Why Maritime Launch Services? That is the central question. Only the Liberals could manage to spend $20 million a year on land that is already owned by taxpayers, but that is what we have with this lease. There is a lot of smoke, and where there is smoke there usually is fire.

Instead of providing answers and clarity, we have seen nothing but obfuscation. That is why the amendment brought forward by the member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes is necessary, to put a halt on directing more taxpayer dollars to this questionable company until those questions are answered.

[Jonathan Rowe, Conservative, Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL]

Mr. Speaker, “to infinity and beyond”. Am I talking about a space program or our deficit? Perhaps I am talking about both. Kids all over Canada look up to Buzz Lightyear and Chris Hadfield about the stars and what is beyond them. Whether they are real astronauts or fictional astronauts, Canadians look up to these role models.

Canada has a great history being a part of our space exploration, such as the Alouette I, which was launched under former Conservative Prime Minister Diefenbaker, making Canada the third country to design and build a satellite; and the Canadarm, an impressive robotic arm used in the space shuttle and the International Space Station. Even Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, was educated right here in Canada.

We have a lot of achievements to be proud of and Canada is certainly swinging well above its weight, including Newfoundland and Labrador. In my riding, in the town of St. Lawrence, we actually have a launch pad. We have the NordSpace launch pad. Last year, many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and scientists from around the world gathered in St. Lawrence to watch NordSpace have its first test launch. The best part is the inauguration mission was called “Getting Screeched In”.

NordSpace is a 100% Canadian-owned company, investing in our province and defence, with a planned expansion opening a new office in St. John's for mission controls. This is good because Canada needs a strong space force. GPS, Internet, communications and many essential components of society and our military are in space. We need to have the ability to provide those services and protect those services for Canadians. Space is no longer just about exploration and discovery. It is about national security, economic growth, scientific advancement and innovation.

The countries that lead in space will help shape the future. Canada was and always should be among those leaders. Our engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs have demonstrated time and time again that they can compete with the best in the world. However, what they need is a government that supports innovation responsibly, spends taxpayer dollars wisely and ensures that invested dollars provide value for Canadians.

I have spent a few days researching NordSpace, its company and business models. It seems that it received a mere $10 million. With that money, it built a nice road, a nice spaceport, developed its technology and even had a test launch. Let us compare that to the spaceport on everyone's mind: Nova Scotia's Maritime Launch Services.

Maritime Launch Services was incorporated in 2016, but things did not get spicy until this year and Canadians are concerned. We have heard that there is a $200-million deal with Maritime Launch Services, but we seem to have very little detail on what that includes. So far, all that seems to be included in this $200-million deal is a concrete pad in the middle of a gravel pit.

Being the inquisitive man that I am, I got on a plane and went to Canso, Nova Scotia, to see this launch pad for myself. After a short three‑kilometre walk, it was easy to see some of the concerns. Being only three kilometres away from the town, I could actually see homes from the launch pad. I can see why the people of the town of Canso are raising concerns. There were signs all over town petitioning against the construction of this launch pad so close to their homes.

In addition, there was not much there. It was an underwhelming experience. There was a sea can, a work trailer and a small concrete pad. Honestly, it was no larger than my driveway. It is not much of a piece of land. It sure seems to be an expensive piece of land at that. The company is renting the land from Nova Scotia for less than $15,000 per year and then it seems like it is billing the Department of National Defence $20 million a year and National Defence will not even own it when it is completed.

To add fuel to this rocket, I am hearing that the federal government backdated this lease for a full year. How does that happen? I would be the happiest landlord in the world if I had tenants who said, “I will backdate my lease and pay for a full year before I move in.” That would be fantastic.

Coincidentally, this lucrative lease came just in time to save the day. It is rumoured that this company was on the verge of bankruptcy before receiving this deal. If that is not bad enough, as soon as the deal got signed, some shareholders cashed out and dumped that stock at a ballooned price. Not only did they get bailed out, but they also got rich. They got rich off Canadian taxpayer dollars, and that is exactly why transparency matters.

Canadians are not opposed to investing in infrastructure. Canadians are not opposed to investing in innovation. Canadians are not opposed to building a stronger space industry, but Canadians are opposed to writing a blank cheque without being told where the money is going.

When governments spend public money, they have a duty to show their work. They have a duty to explain the costs, justify their decisions and demonstrate the results. If this project is truly in the best interest of Canadians, the government should have no problem releasing the details of that lease and letting the facts speak for themselves.

I am not here just to complain and point fingers. I am here to ask questions, to raise the issue, to get to the bottom of this for Canadians. Really, I am standing here to give the Liberals a chance to explain themselves, a chance to release the lease, a chance to release the details of this funding, to explain to Canadians how they can justify spending over $200 million on a space pad in Nova Scotia while a nearly identical one was built in Newfoundland for only 5% of the cost.

Canadians have a right to know. These are large amounts of money we are talking about here. This is not a $16 orange juice or even a $200,000 luxury airplane room service for the Prime Minister's private jet. This is $200 million, million with a capital M. This spaceport is costing Canadians over $54,000 a day for the next 10 years, and $54,000 is more than what an average Canadian makes in a year. The median salary for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians is less than $35,000 a year.

Conservatives know that Canadians have a right to transparency, a right to know how the Liberal government is spending their dollars. I am sincerely hoping the Liberals can stand up and tell Canadians, convince Canadians, show Canadians that this is not another Liberal green slush fund or another Liberal WE scandal, where Liberal insiders and Trudeau's family receive millions of taxpayer dollars.

However, so far, from this side of the House, things are looking pretty fishy. Many Canadians would even argue that this entire spending is a waste. Why should the Canadian taxpayer pay for a second launch pad in Atlantic Canada, when there is a perfectly functional and nearly identical launch pad already constructed and used in Atlantic Canada? Certainly, it would cost much less than $200 million to transport those rockets to the spaceport in my riding.

These are the questions, the simple questions Canadians are asking, and we want to hear good answers, so let us hear it. If there is a sound business case, let us see it. If this is truly a wise investment, then release the details to allow Canadians to judge for themselves. Until then, Canadians will continue to wonder why so much money is being spent with so few answers being provided.

Unfortunately, rockets are not the only thing going to infinity and beyond. It is also Canada's deficit. We spend more money on interest payments than the federal government spends in health care payments. We spend more money servicing the deficit than we receive in GST. This means the 5% we all spend on everything at the store goes straight to the bankers.

The Prime Minister's budget has generational debt. By 2029, over 12% of our budget will be used to service the debt. For every eight dollars we take in, a dollar will be used to service the debt. This is massive. Debt is looming over the next generation of Canadians, risking our entire economy's future, and it is not because Canadians are not paying taxes. We are paying way more than enough taxes. It is because the taxes are not being used wisely.

This, my friends, is why this economy is not flying. It is simply falling with style.

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

Mr. Speaker, Magellan Aerospace in Winnipeg makes satellites and buses for satellites. Having the ability to have sovereignty in space, where Canada is able to use it not only for national use but also potentially for international use, and to expand our aerospace and space industries as a direct result, I think, is something the members opposite are really overlooking.

One of the biggest advocates for this project, by the way, is the progressive Conservative premier of Nova Scotia. He understands the benefits for the aerospace industry. The last time I looked, he was not a Liberal.

At the end of the day, would the member not recognize that, while he might not like the project, it is an overall—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

The hon. member for Terra Nova—The Peninsulas.

[Jonathan Rowe, Conservative, Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I just gave the Liberals a chance to get up and explain. I just asked all the questions on Canadians' minds. I gave them the opportunity on a golden platter, and the member got up on the offence, attacking me as if I do not support the space industry as well, as if I do not support Canadian sovereignty, and as if Conservatives do not support Canadian sovereignty in space. I do not know why the Liberals just never took the opportunity to explain to Canadians what this money was used for and how they are going to actually improve Canadian sovereignty in space.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what I see when it comes to these investments is that there is a significant gap. The Liberals constantly claim that they are there for Canadians. It reached a point where it was comical. I remember the former prime minister saying that the government was there to help and would continue to help in order to help. He seemed to be talking in circles.

Quebec has made certain demands. During the last campaign, the Prime Minister gave a lot of money to communities in western Canada as a rebate for a carbon tax that was never paid in the first place. That payment was made using Quebeckers' tax money, yet Quebec did not get a penny. According to our estimates, Quebec is owed $814 million.

The federal government ignored that demand, but we did not let that deter us. We also asked for help for seniors, who worked hard all their lives. The federal government refuses to budge and is maintaining the two classes of seniors.

What is my colleague's view on this? Should the Liberal government not show a bit more respect for taxpayers?

[Jonathan Rowe, Conservative, Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I think what my friend across the way was describing is almost the same situation, where the Liberal government takes taxpayers' money, uses it in a way that Canadians do not want it to be used and picks favourites. In this case the member across the way claims that the government took taxpayer dollars from Quebec and then gave that money to Anglo-Canada instead. I think we are on the same page. The member is agreeing that the Liberal government takes money from everybody and then distributes it to its chosen people. It is, quite frankly, very frustrating.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have to be proud of our history when we talk about aerospace, because, as my colleague highlighted, we were the fourth country to have a satellite, Alouette I, in 1962, and we were the people who built it.

We built the lunar modules' landing gear in Longueuil, Quebec. Six lunar modules are still up there, each resting on four legs that were made in Longueuil. We should be proud of Canada's aerospace history and legacy.

I would like my colleague's opinion on the following. How is it that, this year, the federal government is unfortunately misspending $200 million on Canada's aerospace industry?

[Jonathan Rowe, Conservative, Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I agree. Quebec especially has been a leader in the aerospace industry, with Bombardier's building airplanes. It has been amazing, what we have done in Canada. We have so much to be proud of. Again, I do not think the mistake is investing. I think the mistake is wasting that money. We built a launch pad that is almost identical to the pictures I have seen and to what I have seen when I have been there. It is an almost identical launch pad, for 5% of the price, in Newfoundland and Labrador. This is not about what we are spending money on. It is how you are wasting the money, giving it to Liberal insiders.

I apologize, Mr. Speaker. It was not you who wasted the money. It was the Liberals. I made a mistake.

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

Mr. Speaker, given that no one else wants to stand up, I am more than happy to share some thoughts in regard to the estimates. Let me start off by providing comments, because we have heard them from Conservative after Conservative. Quite frankly, I am very disappointed that the Conservatives want to play the political corruption game when, in fact, they cannot substantiate it. Rather, they put on tin hats and start conspiracy theories.

At the end of the day, take a look in terms of the opportunity that is before Canada. The Prime Minister has made it very clear that as a nation, we want to build a stronger and healthier economy, as I said earlier today. If we were to take a look at our aerospace industry, we would see, in many ways, that the Government of Canada has recognized how important that industry is, and has directly and indirectly supported it.

Take a look in terms of what the actual results have been and the types of things we are talking about. Do members want to talk about the space industry and its potential? Take a look at what is happening in some European countries as they have recognized the value of looking at the space industry and how much that has impacted their economies. I believe that we can have a space agency and an aerospace industry that can work hand in hand and ultimately build a stronger, healthier country, because when we talk about direct and indirect jobs going into the future, some have estimated that there will be over 200,000 good-quality jobs. These are the types of initiatives we should be taking a serious look at, as the government is doing. It is not only looking but also taking tangible actions.

If we talk about the launch pad that is being, if I can say—

[Some hon. members]

Say it.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure my words are parliamentary.

If we talk about the launch pad that is being put down by the Conservative Party, let us be very clear. I made the statement earlier, when I put a question to the previous speaker, that we have the Progressive Conservative Premier of Nova Scotia as one of the biggest advocates for this particular project. As I said in my question, he is not a Liberal, yet the Conservative Party has a narrative that it wants to stick to no matter what. They do not let the facts get in the way or enable economic opportunities for the province of Nova Scotia, and it is not just Nova Scotia that will benefit from this project.

When I look at it, having this world-class launch site located in Nova Scotia, it is the right place to locate it.