News from Ottawa

image: SpaceforSpecies.ca

I'm not sure if the rest of the world has been following this, but Canada is about to lose a good chunk of our Space technology (MDA) to a US weapons manufacturer (ATK). You can read one side of this debate with quotes from Marc Garneau at
cbc, or a financial take on it at Trading Markets.

I have friends working there and thinking of 'jumping ship' as Paul Cottle did (good application of Space and ethics), but we might still swing our parliament to follow their own guidelines about selling this kind of technology.

MDA owns the technology for the Canadarm and Radarsat, which arguably gives us tangible control of sovereignty in our northern waters (which are rapidly becoming ice-free and a potential shipping route and source of fossil fuels). Then there is the issue of harbouring offices of a company that produces weapons of all calibres. (Note that ATK, "an advanced weapons and space systems company," uses footage of a shuttle launch in conjunction with missile launches on its home page.)

Excuse my ignorance on the issue - this is more complex than can be explained in a couple lines. I am just learning more about it myself, but I would like to hear if anyone is organizing anything to lobby our government.

Regards from a still-voting displaced Canadian
(also posted to ISU Talk)