Canada has strong capabilities in telecommunications, earth observation, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and computer vision systems, aerospace manufacturing and robotics. In the 1960s, it was the third country to launch a satellite into space (Alouette-1) and it is currently an active member of international science and earth observation missions. It is one of the partnering countries on the International Space Station and has also announced its participation in NASA’s Gateway initiative, a manned outpost orbiting the Moon. Under the authority of the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is responsible for the co-ordination of space policies and programmes in Canada.
The 2014 Space Policy Framework offers five core principles that help to guide the Canadian government’s priorities for its space programme. These core principles include a need to ensure Canadian interests and private sector competitiveness are supported through the space programme, and a focus on leveraging partnerships and Canada’s excellence in key capabilities through its space activities. A government space strategy was released in March 2019, highlighting the importance of space science and exploration, industry support and innovation and the use of space technologies to address societal challenges (e.g. bringing connectivity to remote areas, climate change research).
Important long-term Canadian priorities are the Radarsat earth observation missions (first satellite launched in 1995), which provide synthetic aperture radar imagery for maritime surveillance, disaster management and ecosystem monitoring. The country has also had formal co-operation agreements with the European Space Agency since the late 1970s, which give Canadian companies access to the European market.
In 2017, the budget of the Canadian Space Agency amounted to CAD 339 million (USD 249 million), a 3% decrease in real terms compared with 2008. 36% of the budget was devoted to ‘space data, information and services’ (including the Radarsat constellation), 30% to space exploration (mainly the International Space Station) and 19% to ‘future Canadian space capacity’. Subscriptions to ESA programmes accounted for about 10% of the budget (Canadian Space Agency, 2016[1]).
Important research and innovation actors include the Canadian Space Agency and the National Research Council, which support several laboratories and centres across the country. Furthermore, Natural Resources Canada and Defence Research and Development Canada play an important role in earth observation data storage and processing and military technology innovation. Thirty-six universities across Canada carry out an important share of space-related R&D.
The Canadian space sector has activities in many industry segments. In 2017, the sector generated some CAD 5.6 billion (USD 4.1 billion) in revenues, 84% of which was generated in the downstream segment (i.e. satellite operations, value-added products and services including direct-to-home broadcasting) (Canadian Space Agency, 2019[2]). The space sector workforce comprised some 9 942 FTEs (full-time equivalents), with a 50-50 distribution between upstream and downstream segment organisations. Government employees are not included in space workforce data. The biggest industry clusters can be found in Ontario and Québec, which together accounted for 80% of revenues and 74% of the workforce in 2017.
Sales to domestic and foreign government actors accounted for only 13% of revenues, but public procurement remains very important in some upstream segments such as science and space exploration. Exports accounted for 38% of total revenues, with the United States and Europe as the most important foreign markets (Canadian Space Agency, 2019[2]).
Canada’s share in scientific publications in the OECD “Space literature” dataset (see guide to the profiles) has remained stable since 2000. Canada’s share of space-related patent applications decreased between 2002-05 and 2012-15, mainly due to increased activity of other countries.
The penetration of satellite television has gradually decreased since 2010, after an increase between 2000 and 2010. Canada has several funding mechanisms for providing rural broadband, including that provided by satellite (OECD, 2018[3]). The Arctic Inuvik Satellite Station Facility (opened in 2010) was recently linked to the main telecommunications network via a 1 000 km high-speed optical cable, to attract ground station operators and benefit from the growing numbers of polar-orbiting satellites in low-earth orbit.
Space-related development assistance activities over the period 2000-16 focussed mainly on enabling and facilitating local business development (tele-training) and developing tele-communication networks.
