This article was first published by Canada's National Observer.
Every October, Space Week offers Canadians a moment to pause, gaze upward and celebrate Canada’s contributions to space. Space Week is also a time to ask what role our country will play in humanity’s next frontier. For us, it is a clarion call. Canada must act with urgency, vision and purpose to seize the opportunities stemming from the growing global space sector and cement its leadership in space.
Canada’s space sector is not a niche science project. It is already a meaningful contributor to our economy and society directly and indirectly, employing more than 25,000 people — many of whom are in STEM — and adding roughly $3.2 billion to Canada’s GDP, with further multiplier effects across the broader economy.
This is just the beginning of what is possible. There are projections stating that the global space sector will grow to two trillion dollars a year by 2040. A recent Deloitte Canada report argues that if Canada could grab the same share of the global space sector as it currently holds of the overall global economy, it would have a $40 billion space sector by 2040.
Space is more than just exploration, as it is rapidly becoming a critical domain with strategic infrastructure essential to defence, Arctic sovereignty, data sovereignty, climate monitoring, environmental protection, disaster mitigation and response and communications. The global space economy is evolving fast.
Other nations and private actors, from small rocket startups to massive constellation operators, are raising the performance bar. If Canada hesitates, we risk ceding leadership in many subfields where we now hold an advantage.
We must combine ambition with a rules-based approach, enabling Canadian firms to scale confidently in a stable regulatory environment.
Space Week serves as a reminder. It is a visible, national moment to spark imagination, encourage the next generation of scientists and engineers and remind the public that the investments we make now will shape our country for decades to come. But these symbolic gestures will only matter if they are supported by sustained policy, funding and institutional frameworks. Connecting our ambitions to outcomes will take sustained effort.
To coordinate commercial, defence and scientific space activities, Canada must empower the National Space Council announced in the 2024 federal budget. This body needs legal authority, accountability and a long-term mandate, with elected officials and decision-makers being part of it. Space impacts so many government mandates and departments that we need elected officials to be at the centre of leading Canada’s future in space.
Additionally, Canada must modernize laws regarding spectrum, launch liability, deorbiting, orbital debris mitigation, in-space servicing and manufacturing, data governance and commercial procurement to align with international standards, foster sustainability and ensure Canadian companies are competing on a level playing field. We must combine ambition with a rules-based approach, enabling Canadian firms to scale confidently in a stable regulatory environment.
Moreover, Canada needs to work with the space sector to develop its national defence space industrial base, including bolstering R&D programs and adopting commercial space capabilities. We must not ignore the stark warning flagged in a recent Novaspace whitepaper: “Canadian space companies are at a clear disadvantage in the global market, where international competitors benefit from far greater and more favourable forms of government support.”
The government must also lead in early-stage projects that include launch trials, Earth-observation platforms and quantum satellite communications to allow Canadian firms to prove their capabilities internationally. These public investments unlock private capital and enable scale-up.
At the same time, we should support “dual-use” capabilities that serve both civilian and defence needs, especially in the Arctic, where space assets are key to monitoring, navigation and sovereignty.
A thriving space sector depends on a skilled workforce. From coast, to coast, to coast, we must ensure equitable access to education, training and internships, all while enhancing partnerships among post-secondary education institutions, governments and business. As the sector expands, we must anchor decisions in a sustainable ethic that prioritizes long-term debris mitigation, orbital traffic management and respect for international norms regarding the peaceful use of space. Our collective future demands nothing less.
Space Week is an invitation to imagine, to debate and to commit. If Canada treats it as a marketing show, we will squander an opportunity. But if we use it as a launchpad for policy, investment and ongoing collaboration, it can be transformational.
In 2025, Canada stands at a strategic inflection point. Our historic strength in robotics, satellite systems for communications and Earth observation give us a head start. The world is opening for new actors, new infrastructure players, new constellation builders and new data services. If we grasp it, Canada can command not just a niche role but a meaningful share of the global space economy, while delivering tangible benefits for Canadians.
When students gaze skyward this Space Week, we want them to see not just rockets and satellites, but opportunities for their careers, for their communities and for a Canada that leads globally. We invite all Canadians to join in, to demand ambitious leadership and to launch our country into the future it deserves.
