Canada should be a leader in space. We can use industrial policy to get there.
Canada has a proud 60-year heritage in the space sector creating mature space capabilities including being the 3rd country in space with the Alouette-1 satellite. However, in the last decade, even as the sector as a whole has advanced significantly, growth in Canada has stalled.
A major factor holding back the industry is industrial policy and ineffective procurement. There is a strong ecosystem of both startups and world-class space companies in Canada, but no route to turn today’s new ventures into globally scaled winners.
Canada has the talent, education, and track record needed to win in space. In addition, the current macroeconomic environment has left a void in global leadership, which Canada should claim as a neutral, globally trusted country.
However, the country must have the right industrial policy. If the Canadian space industry is to reach its potential, it will require a clear strategy for investing in space to help our companies scale into the global champions they deserve to be. This means:
Creating a national space strategy, having the government act as an anchor customer, decentralizing procurement, and reforming regulation.
Claiming Canada's place in space is essential for the country's economic future, security, and sovereignty. We can use smart industrial policy to achieve this potential.
You can read the full memo at the link below: