Bye, buy, MDA

The 2008 principles of the Conservative party, Canada's Greatest Government(TM), the party of Sir John Eh?, the party of openness and accountability (even though the PM is the only one who is allowed to be open and accountability amounts to blaming everything on past governments), are up on their web site. (see http://www.conservative.ca/EN/2692/41593). It is a long document and mostly fatuous, but I direct you to one section in particular.

Section V (that's "5" for those who missed the lectures on Roman Numerals) concerns:

NATIONAL DEFENCE AND SECURITY

Subsection 109 concerns Canada First Defence Policy

Item viii) (8) states that "The Conservative Party believes that a viable Canadian Defence Industry contributes to our national security and our industrial productivity, through such sectors as shipbuilding, aerospace, electronics, and land systems among others. Defence procurement will, subject to availability, quality and cost, support Canadian industry that can meet military requirements."

Now let's try to square this statement of principles with the government's resounding endorsement of the sell off of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) to an American firm. MDA has benefited from millions, if not billions, of Canadian taxpayers dollars in the development of such assets as Canadarm, Canadarm2 and RADARSAT-2. These Canadian innovations are state-of-the-art, cream-of-the-crop, and numero uno in the aerospace industry. They were paid for by Canadians and will now belong to Americans.

According to MDA web site for RADARSAT2: "RADARSAT-2 is the product of a unique partnership between the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA)."

I think that the key word is "partnership" with Canadian Space Agency. What is the nature of that "partnership"? Does the CSA have any ownership rights to RADARSAT-2? If so, what do they get from the sell off? If nothing, why not?

And what of our arm-out-the-window into space. Every (OK, most) Canadian knows about the Canadarm that is an integral part of the Space Shuttle. We see our name and flag enblazened on the arm. Now that Canadarm is American, I guess the flag will be removed and the arm will be referred to as the remote manipulator device. What the heck, the Americans call it that now, anyway.

And what of Canadarm2, a truly amazing device that was just launched to the International Space Station (ISS). Remote Manipulator Device 2, I guess.

And what of Canada's involvement with the ISS? Are we left to supplying experiments to see if rats can copulate in space or the effects of weightlessness on spider webs?

And what of the federally-owned David Florida Laboratory in Ottawa? The Canadarm and RADARSAT were developed there. The Florida Lab has had a tenuous future ever since the CSA was moved to Montreal a bunch of years ago. Are we seeing the end of the Florida Lab? (Can you say AVRO Arrow?)

If I were a Conservative MP or a potential Con election candidate, I would be asking PM Harper for some talking points on this topic. A warning to them, though; don't make up comments of your own. Leave the content of your comments to the open PMO and make sure that you make past governments accountable for whatever happens.