Industry Minister Jim Prentice Declares Not In Canada’s Best InterestOttawa (eCanadaNow) - Officials in the Canadian government have declared a halt to the proposed sale of Canadian Satellite, robotics and aerospace technology to the United States, noting that such a sale would work against the national interests of Canada.
MP of Industry Jim Prentice stated firmly that the sale couldn’t be agreed upon. The proposed sale of MacDonald, Detailer and Associates to United States Aerospace Giant and Rocket maker Alliant Techsystems would have been for $1.325 billion dollars.
Purchaser Alliant has 30 days to object to the Ottawa government decision.
The purchase and sale would have transferred the Radarsat-2 satellite system, the CanadaArm and the new Space Shuttle element “Dextre,” to the control of Alliant Techsystems.
Observers in the Canadian government and the aerospace industry have spoken out against the sale. Former head of the Canadian Space Agency Marc Garneau had requested blockage of the sale. “It hands over vital Canadian technology, taxpayer funded sovereignty technology,” said Garneau.
Despite the blockage of the sale, Alliant has said that if the sale were to be honored that the existing agreements and contracts of MDA would be honored, especially the ones with the Canadian government.
