Industry committee  First, it would have to be exported from here, so we'd have a significant amount of control. Second, the staff who have the know-how are in Canada and want to stay in Canada. I can tell you that for a fact. We've tried to move some of them to the U.S. to grow our business and they don't want to go.

Industry committee  That is between the Minister of Industry and ATK. I can't make the guarantees, but I know from talking to ATK that they're completely committed to building a space business here in Canada, and I know from buying various companies over the past few years, that's what you have to do if you want your return on investment, and they must be having discussions with the Minister of Industry.

Industry committee  We were told they would keep the work and the technology and export mandate in Canada. They would keep our management staff in Canada and they would keep our management in place. That's what we were told, and I am sure that's what they are telling the Canadian government in whatever contractual situation.

Industry committee  In our industry, in our business, we have no job security. We are six months from being out of business. We have to go and win the business. The only thing that gives us job security is access to work, and the absolute vast majority of our employees understand that gives us access to work.

Industry committee  Our shareholders are very patriotic. In fact, the teachers' federation was part of the group that brought the company back into Canada. They wanted to know if we were doing this to maintain the company in Canada and make it thrive. I can absolutely tell you, because I'm the guy who made the recommendation, that that's what we're doing.

Industry committee  The sale is contingent on ATK obeying all the government rules on control and operation of the satellite.

Industry committee  You would have to ask them about that. My understanding is that technically it's not an issue. The issue is whether we have access to sell the data for the money we've invested. The government controls the satellite. You can't do anything with the satellite up there. It's controlled from the ground.

Industry committee  The intellectual property to build RADARSAT-2 that was funded by MDA has been sold to ATK, yes.

Industry committee  We have bid two options on the RADARSAT constellation. One option is based on RADARSAT-2. One option is based on a new technology we've developed in the last few years. RADARSAT-2 is 10 years old. Both of those proposals are honoured by ATK, and in fact they're hoping very much, as we are, that one of them will be approved soon and we'll be on the work.

Industry committee  I hope not, no. They should get the contract.

Industry committee  All of our existing contracts will be made over to the new owner. If it's in the process of being bid, it will be up to the government to decide whether to move it over or not to move it over. It would be a government decision, but ATK is willing to honour that proposal, as it's willing to honour every proposal we have in front of the government right now.

Industry committee  Yes, our defence group is also part of the sale, and it is bidding on unmanned vehicle jobs for the Canadian government. It hasn't won any, but it's bidding on them.

Industry committee  As I said, I have been in the marketing field to the United States. I've been under a U.S. owner. Mr. Thompson is a very capable engineer, but he's not in this field of marketing. When we were owned by a U.S. company, our U.S. work went up. Not only did it go up, but we became the number one company in the world to build ground stations for high resolution satellites for the U.S. government, and we are that today.

Industry committee  I think we were founded in 1969. I'm not good at math.

Industry committee  It was just recently, in December 2007.