Canada Makes Dedicated Push Toward Sovereign Space Launch
Canada wants to stand up a sovereign spaceport, with plans to invest $200 million CAD ($146 million) over 10 years for a multiuser launchpad, Minister of National Defense David McGuinty announced March 16.
The spaceport would be situated near Canso, Nova Scotia, and operated by the Halifax company Maritime Launch Services, the Department of National Defense (DND) said in a press release. The 10-year lease agreement hinges on the company starting initial operations by year’s end and that it directs at least 90% of funds received back to Canadian companies. The spaceport would support operational needs of Ottawa’s military forces and the wider Canadian government, as well as “ad hoc access” to allies and partners.
Nations around the globe are working to stand up their own launch ports, as they push for greater autonomy and to break a longstanding dependence on U.S. providers including SpaceX. The Canadian government included a $182.6 million investment in its 2025 budget blueprint to launch a sovereign launch program within three years.
McGuinty also announced the selection of three companies to receive $8.3 million in funding to develop and demonstrate new sovereign launch capabilities under the first round of the DND’s “Launch the North” innovation contest. The three companies—Canada Rocket Company, NordSpace and Reaction Dynamics—are charged with developing an initial light-lift operational launch capability by 2028. The department has earmarked $105 million for multiyear grants under the Launch the North initiative.
Canada plans to launch about 200 satellites built by Telesat in 2027 as a sovereign satellite communications (satcom) alternative to Starlink. Meanwhile, Telesat and Ottawa satellite company MDA Space are partnering to field new wideband and narrowband military satcom capabilities to support Arctic operations. MDA Space announced on March 16 that it has closed its initial public offering in the U.S. after raising $300 million, and is now dual listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker MDA and under its previous listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Last November, MDA Space also announced plans for a $10 million equity in Maritime Launch Services for $0.223 per share.
As these initiatives take flight, Canada is deepening its commitments to the NATO alliance in the space domain. McGuinty announced plans for the nation to become a “full member” of a NATO initiative aimed at developing a resilient network of allied spaceports known as Starlift, the DND release said.
Canada and Norway’s defense ministers also signed a letter of intent on March 14 to deepen bilateral cooperation in the space domain, with a focus on Arctic security. Both nations are part of NATO and the Combined Space Operations Initiative, a collection of 10 nations working mutually toward deterrence, interoperability and space warfighting capabilities that also consists of Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the UK and the U.S.
