Industry committee  No, no. To do business you have to have operations in the country. I can get a Canadian government contract and I can subcontract, like I did with the bus to Italy or a launch to the United States. A U.S. company can get a U.S. contract and subcontract with me to do a radar payload.

Industry committee  As I mentioned, the number one reason we picked this option was to maintain the jobs in Canada. That's what I'm trying to do. But the only way you can have jobs is to have work, and I need work. We can't just have any work. It doesn't matter that Canada decides to do $1 billion a year in space; if they're not going to build a space station for whatever it costs the United States....

Industry committee  You should be concerned. To my knowledge, it's completely taken care of by the very competent people in our government, dating back many, many years.

Industry committee  You should ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs, but I think it's taken care of.

Industry committee  Well, it's our staff, under contract with the Canadian Space Agency, in their facility.

Industry committee  It is the same group of people under the same facility under the same rules.

Industry committee  Yes.

Industry committee  It's as long as the satellite lasts. RADARSAT-1 has lasted more than ten years, and it's $400 million--I forget the exact figure.

Industry committee  No. There's a point at which we fulfill our contractual obligation to deliver x amount of data, but that satellite is controlled under the laws of Canada forever.

Industry committee  I hope I win that one, but they competed for that one.

Industry committee  I hope so.

Industry committee  No. There are 1,500 employees in Canada, and a small percentage have a personal problem with this deal. I probably have the biggest personal problem with this deal. I lose my dream job--28 years. Other people have other problems.

Industry committee  No, but our firm is here.

Industry committee  I don't have that option, so it's a hypothetical question. I have talked to a lot of employees. By and large, our employees understand the need for this because that is their future. It's the way for us to participate in these programs. They understand that need. We're all proud Canadians and we have our feelings.

Industry committee  Let me clarify two things. I think CSA was referring to space, and not aerospace, but you'd have to ask them. Secondly, when they said that half of their money goes to MDA, a large proportion of it leaves the back door right away to subcontractors in Canada; it doesn't stay with MDA.