Questions and responses 45th Parliament, 1st session May 26, 2025, to present

With regard to the announcement on March 16, 2026 by the Minister of National Defence to lease land from Maritime Launch Services through a 10-year, $200-million agreement: (a) what are the details of all emails, memorandums, notes, or other documents related to the topic since October 1, 2016, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) sender, (iii) recipient, (iv) title, (v) form (email, memorandum, etc.); (b) what was the criteria used to determine that Maritime Launch Services met the defence and security priorities of the government; (c) did any other applicants apply and what are the details around each application; (d) on what date did the minister learn that Maritime Launch Services was leasing the same land from the province of Nova Scotia for $13,500 per year; (e) what was the rationale for Maritime Launch Services being exempt from a federal impact assessment of the dedicated space-launch pad; (f) what was the rational for backdating the $200 million lease to April 1, 2025 and providing Maritime Launch Services with $20 million for the existing undeveloped concrete pad for the first year of the term ending March 31, 2026; (g) what are the details of all documents outlining the government’s plans to ensure Maritime Launch Services provides a dedicated launch pad and associated services at an initial operational capability state by the end of 2026, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) sender, (iii) recipient, (iv) title, (v) form (email, memorandum, etc.), (vi) file number; and (h) on what date did the minister receive the report from Canada’s Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization and what was the response to the finding that Maritime Launch Services' current Chair of the Board had his membership suspended and later revoked for misconduct?

With regard to the government announcement on March 16, 2026, relating to Maritime Launch Services: (a) on what date, or approximately what date, did government officials enter into discussions with Maritime Launch Services; (b) who initiated the discussions and was involved in the initial discussions in (a); (c) was a letter of intent for this funding arrangement signed, and, if so, on what date was it signed; and (d) who wrote the first draft of the agreement, and on what date was the first draft shared with (i) the government, (ii) Maritime Launch Services representatives?

With regard to the government’s decision to provide federal funding and enter into leasing arrangements related to Spaceport Nova Scotia and the development of a sovereign space launch capability: (a) what are the details of all analyses conducted prior to committing public funds, including (i) assessments of the site’s current operational capacity, infrastructure readiness, and launch track record, (ii) projected timelines and milestones for achieving a functional orbital launch capability, (iii) comparisons with alternative options for achieving sovereign launch capability, including partnerships or use of existing international facilities; (b) what are the full financial terms and obligations associated with the federal agreement, including (i) total projected expenditures over the life of the agreement, (ii) annual lease or payment structures, (iii) any performance conditions, benchmarks, or clawback provisions tied to the funding, (iv) any additional federal support provided or committed through other departments, agencies, or Crown corporations, (v) the rationale for entering into a long-term lease agreement for a site located on provincial Crown land, including any analyses comparing the cost of leasing versus acquisition or direct public development of similar infrastructure, (vi) whether the agreement was backdated, and, if so, the rationale for this decision and its financial or legal implications, (vii) any domestic content, procurement, or spending requirements attached to the funding, including any requirement that a portion of funds be spent in Canada, and how compliance with such requirements will be monitored, verified, and enforced; (c) what performance metrics, reporting requirements, and accountability mechanisms are in place to evaluate the use of public funds and project outcomes, including (i) expected economic benefits, job creation, and industry development, (ii) anticipated launch frequency and commercial viability, (iii) how and when these results will be reported to Parliament; (d) what risk assessments have been conducted regarding the project, including (i) financial risks and potential losses to taxpayers, (ii) technological and operational risks related to launch capability, (iii) risks associated with relying on foreign technology, supply chains, or partners, and what are the results of those assessments, (iv) any known performance, compliance, or credibility concerns identified by federal or provincial officials regarding the project proponents, including delays, reporting issues, or other deficiencies, and how those concerns were assessed and addressed prior to approving federal funding; (e) what consultations were undertaken prior to finalizing the agreement, including (i) which departments, agencies, provincial or municipal governments, and external experts were consulted, (ii) the dates and nature of those consultations, (iii) the key findings or advice provided; (f) what is the current status of the project, including (i) infrastructure completed to date, (ii) number and type of launches conducted, (iii) projected timeline for achieving regular commercial or government launch operations, (iv) the expected date of the first successful orbital launch from the site, and whether this timeline is a condition of continued federal funding; (g) what analysis has been conducted regarding Canada’s geographic suitability for satellite launches relative to other jurisdictions, and how did this analysis factor into the decision to invest in this specific site; (h) what are the details of all meetings attended by ministers, their staff or senior government officials with individuals or entities advocating for the project, including, for each, (i) the date, (ii) the names and titles of attendees, (iii) whether the meeting was in person, virtual or hybrid, (iv) the decisions made, if any; (i) what steps were taken by the government to identify, assess, and mitigate any real or perceived conflicts of interest, including those arising from political affiliations, past or current political roles, lobbying activities, or other connections, including the timing and outcomes of any such assessments; and (j) what are the details of all meetings which have taken place between federal ministers, ministerial staff, departments, agencies, and representatives of the project or its operators, including the number of meetings, dates, participants, and the subject matter discussed?

With regard to the government's announced $200 million, 10-year agreement with Maritime Launch Services for a spaceport facility near Canso, Nova Scotia: (a) how much is the government paying to lease the land and associated infrastructure for the dedicated space launch pad, and what are the full terms and duration of each lease or access agreement; (b) what is the detailed breakdown of how public funds are being allocated, including a breakdown of the amounts directed toward consulting services, contractors, subcontractors and administrative costs; (c) have any foreign entities received funding as part of the agreement and, if so, which entities, and how much did each receive; (d) which scientific, technical, or economic advisory bodies were consulted to inform this decision, and what are the details, including the findings, of any assessments, reports, or recommendations produced as a result of the consultations; (e) what are the details of all due diligence, risk assessments, and market analyses conducted to justify committing $200 million in taxpayer funds to this project, and what evidence exists that sufficient commercial or defence demand will materialize; (f) what annual payments are scheduled over the 10-year period, and under what conditions can those payments be reduced, withheld, or cancelled; (g) which departments or agencies are responsible for oversight of the project, and what accountability mechanisms does each have in place; and (h) what are the details of all analyses conducted comparing the cost of this agreement to launching via existing foreign providers, and what were the findings of each analysis?

With regard to the government’s announcement of approximately $200 million in funding related to the Nova Scotia spaceport project involving Maritime Launch Services: (a) what is the total amount of funding committed, broken down by (i) department or agency, (ii) program or funding stream, (iii) type of funding (grant, loan, loan guarantee, repayable contribution), (iv) any conditions attached to the funding; (b) what process was used to approve the funding, including (i) whether a competitive process was conducted, (ii) the evaluation criteria used, (iii) all departments, agencies, or external advisors involved in the assessment; (c) what due diligence was conducted prior to the approval of the funding, including (i) financial viability assessments, (ii) ownership structure and beneficial ownership, (iii) any foreign investment or partnerships; (d) what are the details of each meeting that took place between government officials, including ministers or ministers’ offices, and any third-party consultants, lobbyists, or law firms in relation to Maritime Launch Services or the Nova Scotia spaceport project, including (i) the dates on which they occurred, (ii) the names and titles of the attendees, (iii) the type of meeting (zoom, in person, etc.), (iv) the agenda; (e) what are the details of each meeting that took place between government officials, including ministers or ministers’ offices, and any external parties representing interests in relation to Maritime Launch Services or the Nova Scotia spaceport project, including (i) the dates on which they occurred, (ii) the names and titles of the attendees, (iii) the type of meeting (zoom, in person, etc.), (iv) the agenda; and (f) what are the details of all briefing notes, memoranda, or other materials related to these meetings or communications that were prepared for the minister or the deputy minister, regardless of whether such materials are publicly available, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) sender, (iii) recipients, (iv) title, (v) type of document, (vi) file number?