Canada's Strategy for Satellite Earth Observation

In 2019, the Government of Canada proudly announced Exploration, Innovation, Imagination: A New Space Strategy for Canada. In that document, our Government committed to ensuring Canada's leadership in leveraging satellite data to support scientific excellence, innovation and economic development. With the impacts of climate change becoming more evident every day, innovations in space technologies provide Canadians with reliable and timely information to support science-based decision making, while supporting countless services across the country and driving our economy.

Canada has a long history as a global leader in satellite Earth observation technology, beginning in 1962 when Canada became only the third country to operate a satellite in orbit. We are now laying the groundwork for the continuation of that excellence. As the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, in collaboration with the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, we are following up on the commitments made in the Space Strategy by presenting our vision for the future: Resourceful, Resilient, Ready: Canada's Strategy for Satellite Earth Observation. Developed in consultation with industry and academia, our new strategy outlines the path to equipping Canada with as many tools as possible to confront climate change and to support Canadians in the 21st century.

Satellites are an integral part of our lives. Many of our everyday decisions, from bringing an umbrella on a walk to deciding if roads are safe to drive, are informed by data provided by satellites passing over our country. National safety and security are also dependent on the unique vantage point of space as increasingly detailed satellite data supports decision making in our communities related to wildfires, floods, and other natural hazards. Satellites help keep Canadians healthy by monitoring air quality in our cities, modelling the movement of disease-spreading species, and forecasting harmful algal blooms in our water. For Canadian industry, the growing demand for environmental and industrial intelligence is bolstering high-tech development. Start-ups and Earth observation firms are using artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics to provide science-based services, from daily crop maps that help agricultural producers feed Canadians to advanced forest growth models that help resource companies provide the products we need for a growing and vibrant population.