Speaking Points
The Honourable Christian Paradis, PC, MP
Minister of Industry
Ottawa, Ontario
July 25, 2012
Check Against Delivery
Thank you, Steve.
It's great to be here to celebrate Canada's role in building the world's most complex and powerful space telescope.
Right off the bat, I want to acknowledge all the organizations that made this project a success:
- the Canadian Space Agency,
- the European Space Agency,
- NASA,
- COM DEV International, and
- the National Research Council of Canada.
And, of course, all our researchers and scientists across the country.
Canada has a proud legacy in space technology. And we are here today to celebrate our part in another groundbreaking project: the James Webb Space Telescope.
The two outstanding technologies that will support the Webb Telescope are perfect examples of how Canada has secured its world-class reputation.
The first of these technologies—the Fine Guidance Sensor—is a cutting-edge camera that will guide the telescope in finding its position and celestial targets far away. We're talking about incredible precision; it has the accuracy of one millionth of a degree.
The other technology—the Near InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph—will be one of the telescope's four science instruments. It has unique capabilities for detecting the thin atmosphere of small, habitable, Earth-like planets. It can seek water vapour, carbon dioxide and other potential biomarkers such as methane and oxygen.
This technology may help find the next habitable planet in our universe.
Once again, Canada's space sector is pushing the frontier of what is possible. We are using our global advantage in several niche areas such as robotics and satellite communications. And our government is proud to support a sector that plays such a vital role in driving Canadian economic prosperity.
Through strategic investments in R&D and space, we will continue to strengthen Canadian excellence in science and technology, foster industrial innovation and commercialization, and position Canada for continued economic growth.
We know that these investments lead to real opportunities for our companies well beyond our borders—opportunities that help create high-quality jobs for Canadians.
But to ensure the continued success of our industry, we must always strive to do better. This is the vision that our scientists, researchers and astronauts demonstrate every day.
It is this vision that leads to the creation of the technologies we are celebrating here. And it is this vision that led me to launch the Aerospace and Space Review earlier this year.
We need to make sure that we continue to thrive not only domestically but on the global stage.
For our government, this means examining the tools we use, looking at our programs and policies, aligning our efforts and finding the best possible ways to support long-term competitiveness and growth. Ultimately, we need to work with industry to find solutions that work for industry.
Under David Emerson's lead, the Aerospace and Space Review is well underway, and I look forward to the results later this year.
In the meantime, we will continue to drive Canada's science and technology advantage. That is why our involvement in this project extends beyond just the R&D phase.
Through our partnership with NASA and the European Space Agency, Canadian astronomers will have access to the Webb Telescope. This will be an invaluable tool for their research projects.
Our researchers will be able to look for the first stars and galaxies that formed after the Big Bang. They may be able to observe the formation of new stars. And they can continue to search for solar systems containing planets that are capable of supporting life.
I want to thank our researchers and scientists for their incredible dedication and hard work. In the face of something this amazing, it is impossible not to be awed by their ingenuity.
Our government will continue to support the space sector while we all wait to see just what you will build next.
Congratulations!
Thank you.
