Government introduces bill to support space launches from Canadian territory

OTTAWA — The federal government has introduced space launch legislation to allow Ottawa to regulate and oversee both launches and re-entry on Canadian territory.

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon told reporters Tuesday Canada is the only G7 country without space launch capabilities.

“Currently, we must rely on foreign countries, most often the United States, to get Canadian satellites in orbit,” he said.

“This reliance on the U.S. sends investment out of our country, creates costly delays and leaves critical infrastructure exposed to decisions beyond our control.”

Officials said in a technical briefing the Canadian Space Launch Act will allow technology like satellites and rockets to be launched into space from Canadian facilities. They said the launches will serve both military and civilian applications.

MacKinnon said the legislation could lead to the establishment of a Canadian commercial space industry worth $40 billion.

Launches could start in two or three years, he said.

In March, the government announced it is putting $200 million toward a 10-year lease on a Canadian-owned launch pad in Nova Scotia. Defence Minister David McGuinty said at the time about 20 per cent of the Canadian economy — including banking and telecommunications — relies on satellites.

“We want to be able to give ourself more sovereignty and security on that front,” McGuinty said.

MacKinnon said Tuesday there have been major advances in the use of space for telecommunications, mapping, geolocation and intelligence-gathering.

“These are things that Canada cannot permit itself to fall behind on. So this is about giving ourselves the options and the capability of protecting Canada, of making sure our armed forces stay current and on pace with the rest of the world,” he said.

He said launch capability will help Canada with predicting and fighting wildfires, marine conservation and Arctic security.

MacKinnon also cited Telesat, the Ottawa-based satellite operator that is launching a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites — similar to Elon Musk’s Starlink — that can connect the most remote areas of the country to broadband internet.

“It is a Canadian alternative in that space … I think we know who the other alternatives are,” MacKinnon said.

MacKinnon said Telesat’s “launch capability from Canada is currently low to non-existent. So this will offer them a Canadian alternative for that Canadian technology.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21, 2026.

— With files from Kyle Duggan

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press