Canada unveils new space policy

OTTAWA - Canadian Industry Minister James Moore Friday unveiled a new plan to develop the country's space industry, in a bid to safeguard Canada's "sovereignty, security and prosperity".

Moore said Canada's Space Policy Framework will serve as a guideline for the country's strategic space activities, and ensure its commercial competitiveness of space industry in the future.

The framework noted that "space has become a new frontier not only for science but for commerce," as global satellite industry revenues has exceeded 190 billion Canadian dollars ($172 billion) annually.

"Every G20 nation now has its own satellite system in space, and the emerging economies have made substantial investments in their national space programs," the paperwork said, adding that this will bring greater competition for the Canadian space industry as it courts new markets and customers.

"Canada's space industry asked for a change, and we recognize the essential role that our space industry plays in keeping Canada's economy on the right track and in maintaining our position as a global leader in space," said Moore.

The official also confirmed the support for the James Webb Telescope project, a result of international cooperation involving Canada that is set to launch in 2018 and the most powerful space telescope in the world.

The new framework emphasized the role of private sectors and international collaboration to develop space industry.

But Montreal Liberal Member of Parliament and former astronaut Marc Garneau said the framework "resembles" to what he proposed a decade ago,criticizing the federal Conservative government for cutting space program budget by 30 million Canadian dollars ($27 million) last year.

Garneau admitted though it is "a good framework" but the real question lied in implementation.

In light of international space efforts, Canada is known for the Canadarms, robot arms attached to the international space station, and famous astronauts including the first ever Canadian commander of the station Chris Hadfield.

According to Canadian Space Agency, the country's space sector generated total revenues of 3.327 billion Canadian dollars ($3 billion) in 2012, and have increased 533-million-Canadian-dollar (483 million Canadian dollars) over the last five years.