CAW calls for $1.5B in funding for space industry
Canada's space sector requires $1.53 billion in new funding over the next five years to rebuild Canada's space capabilities, according to a report released Wednesday.
The study "Flying high: A plan to rebuild Canada's space capabilities," released by the Canadian Auto Workers and the Ottawa-based Rideau Institute for International Affairs, calls on the government to increase funding to the Canadian Space Agency to help keep the industry globally competitive.
"The fundamental problem facing companies contracting with the CSA is that the agency's budget has been stagnant for eight years at approximately $300 million per year," wrote financial analyst David Macdonald, the report's author.
The report applauded the federal government for closing the door on the proposed $1.3-billion sale of Vancouver-based MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates' space-technology division to a U.S. space and weapons company last month.
But it said Canada needs to address the issues that led MDA to put its satellite and space robotics businesses up for sale, namely a lack of government investment in the industry relative to other G8 nations.
The report recommends bringing in a permanent CSA president, and negotiating stronger exemptions from U.S. restrictions to allow Canadian companies to work more closely with American partners. It also wants the federal government to commit to funding for the Radarsat Constellation mission — a series of three satellites based on the Radarsat 2 satellite that was at the centre of the blocked sale of MDA units to U.S. arms maker Alliant Techsystems Inc.
The federal government has already acted to address its perceived lack of direction in the space industry this year, announcing a call for applications to join the astronaut corps and the creation of a four-person advisory committee to look into the future role of the Canadian Space Agency.
It also announced the signing of a four-year, $109 million contract to MDA for ongoing engineering services for the robotic systems aboard the International Space Station.
But critics have pointed out that the government's newly appointed board has only one member who has worked in the industry, former astronaut Dave Williams.
And Macdonald said in the report the new MDA contract would have been awarded in any event and would likely have been awarded earlier had it not been for the potential MDA-ATK sale.
The Canadian Autoworkers represents workers at MDA facilities at Brampton, Ont., and St. Anne de Bellevue, Que.
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