The Canadian space sector has immense economic potential, and in addition, offers a potential solution to the challenges of maintaining Arctic sovereignty and could also help the country meet its NATO spending targets, says Brian Gallant, CEO of Space Canada.

To “stand on our own,” Canada should pursue Prime Minister Mark Carney’s commitment to hit the NATO defense spending target of 2% of the national GDP, Gallant said last week on former Conservative cabinet minister Lisa Raitt’s podcast, The Raitt Stuff. Space Canada, which represents more than 90 “space innovators” including companies and academic institutions, can “help immensely” by improving Arctic protection, in which space-based capabilities would be “pivotal.”

Exploration is a big part of what gives the space sector its cache, but there are many other exciting, commercially viable aspects, including earth observation, which aids in the protection of our oceans and coastlines, and helps first responders deal with natural disasters, Gallant said. It’s also about protecting the Arctic, and about space mining eventually, “which will be a huge economic driver.”

Gallant says the lessons learned delivering health care in space can be applied to taking care of people in remote regions not only in Canada but around the world? The space sector can also help develop telecommunications solutions for remote areas and Indigenous communities.

Canso launchpad

“Everybody recognizes that there’s immense opportunity,” with the sector projected to grow exponentially over the next two decades, possibly to $2 trillion by 2040, Gallant said. “So we really need to ensure that we step up and get our act together.”

At the moment, Canada doesn’t have the infrastructure needed to flourish in satellite communications, according to Gallant. Referencing speculation surrounding the Canso launchpad in Nova Scotia, he pointed out Canada doesn’t have the capability for domestic space launches, which is a challenge for the end-to-end functioning of the sector.

With the space sector becoming increasingly dominated by major American companies like Amazon and SpaceX, Gallant emphasized that it would “be nice to have a Canadian option given everything that’s going on,” such as the “personalities” behind the companies — a jab at Elon Musk — as well as for national economic and security concerns.

Canadian space innovators are helping move Canada towards self-sufficiency, he said. For example, Telesat, an Ottawa-based satellite communications company is delivering their “Lightspeed” program, which promises to deliver fast and high-performing connectivity through 198 Low Earth Orbit satellites.

Gallant said Telesat’s technology, and similar innovation, could open economic opportunities across the country, and the world, while improving quality of life through improved connectivity.