Canada’s Defence Minister David McGuinty announced a $200 million, 10-year federal investment to build and lease a new Canadian space launch site near Canso, Nova Scotia.
The site, run by Halifax company Maritime Launch Services, says they will be ready to launch satellites by late 2026.
McGuinty also announced that Canada will join NATO’s STARLIFT project. This major NATO effort builds a network of launch sites across member countries so allies can quickly send satellites into space when needed.
The launch pad will support Department of National Defence, Canadian Armed Forces, and government missions while strengthening national security and operational capabilities with STARLIFT.
CEO of Space Canada, Brian Gallant says, “Space is strategically vital to modern defence and represents a major economic opportunity for Canada. With world-class capabilities across our space ecosystem, Canada must adopt policies and make investments that enable our space industrial base. A key step is further developing a sovereign space launch capability in Canada, ensuring we can support growing global demand while protecting both our economic and national security interests.”
Atlantic Canada has over 200 defence firms that build ships, maintain aircraft and engines, make sonar systems, create training tech, develop ground vehicles, and improve cyber defences. The project will create high-tech jobs in Guysborough County.
