Federal government, 2 firms to develop Arctic communications infrastructure
Work will develop satellite system to support armed forces, including Canadian Rangers
Canadian Rangers will benefit from clearer, more reliable communications when the planned Arctic satellite system is built, the federal government says. Canadian Rangers are seen here in March when Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Iqaluit and promised major investments in Arctic sovereignty and infrastructure. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
The federal government is partnering with two Canadian companies to “develop and bolster” military satellite communications in Canada’s Arctic.
The announcement was made Tuesday at the Ottawa headquarters of Telesat Corp., one of the two companies involved in the deal along with MDA Space Ltd.
Extreme cold and working for weeks at a time in total darkness hinders the reception and transmission of “mission critical” information for Canadian Armed Forces in the North, said Joël Lightbound, the minister of government transformation, public services and procurement.
“Search and rescue, medical emergencies and community safety all depend on communications that actually work and work in the most testing conditions on earth,” he said.
The government said the communications network would be dual-use, meaning it will have civilian and military purposes, but did not explain what that will mean for people living in the North.
The project is part of a $38.6-billion government plan to modernize Norad, or the North American Aerospace Defence Command, said Stephen Fuhr, the secretary of state for defence procurement.
Telesat and MDA are entering a strategic partnership with the government — called the Enhanced Satellite Communications Project-Polar — to design, develop and deliver systems the Canadian Armed Forces needs, Fuhr said.
An initial $2.92-million contract has been awarded to the companies for an analysis to ensure the project is Canadian-made, reliable and built for northern conditions.
Eventually, the budget for that project could reach $5 billion, according to background information issued by the government, Fuhr said.
The government selected Telesat and MDA Space because of their combined expertise in secure satellite communications and space-based infrastructure, a federal government news release accompanying Tuesday’s announcement said.
We’d have to believe that the referenced communication technology and systems already exist and are already deployed in numerous reliable, polar circumstances. The preliminary spend sounds like more Liberal Party showmanship and indifference to how my conscripted taxes are spent
So who will launch the satellites required as Telesat is unable to launch? Starlink is the world leader, but it’s American. And we Canadians are MSM/Gov pounded daily not to like them anymore. Orange man bad for creating jobs and looking after farmers.
Trudeau back in the day talked about Canada as the first post-national state with no core identity.
Today, Carny tells us Canada is the most non-European countries.
So, will it be a given the EU will launch satellites since Carny signed Canada to the EU military-industrial pack? (Without discussion in the house and the $12 million annual fee to be in the club, re-arming EU.) Though currently the EU is in satellite launch transition, thus relies on SpaceX for launches.
India, Russia, China, Japan, Israel, and South Korea all launch satellites?
India recently teamed up with Russia for cooperation in nuclear, space, and military tech, including Arctic cooperation.
The Enhanced Satellite Communications Project — Polar (ESCP-P) is expected to be online by 2037 and in full operation by 2041. The money has been in place since 2022… $5 billion. The name ESCP-P became public in late 2024.
Now that the $5 billion fee is known, does it make sense why the Liberals keep repeating their slogans … “The world is becoming more dangerous.” “We live in the most dangerous global moment since WWII.” “Canada must prepare for a more dangerous world.” “In a more dangerous world, Canada must step up.”
To justify the $5 billion to see the number as small and accept full scale Arctic militarization?
And not question why ESCP-P hid after money was allocated, but to accept less transparency?
Let’s see. Apologetics for Trump. (US unemployment is up, so Orange man is not creating jobs. And looking after farmers is giving them money to make up for all the money they lost because of his stupid decisions on trade). Slagging Europe. And, of course, the required Justin Trudeau bashing about something that has no relevance. I mean seriously, why don’t you just use the name Maple MAGA? You’re not exactly hiding it.
A reminder that Telesat is over 60% US owned.
It’s a publicly traded company with most of the investors being investment funds and institutions.
I’m not a party leader fan. Since liberals have been in power, I haven’t had any job offerings, no permanent job since i left high school way back in 2005. Inuit and nunavummiut I hope they aren’t seen as party baits. Because im on social assistance here i got high school diploma and college diploma. But no job. No two week pay. Nothing. It’s a waste of time.