An Ottawa-based think tank has teamed up with the Canadian Auto Workers union to urge the government to significantly increase funding for Canada's space program.
The CAW and the Rideau Institute want the Tories to top up public spending for the Canadian Space Agency so that it matches those of other G8 countries. That would require more than $1.5 billion dollars over the next five years.
"The government has to take the next step to ensure that we have a vibrant, productive space industry into the future," Steven Staples, the president of the Rideau Institute told Â鶹´«Ã½net Wednesday afternoon.
Staples said the space program needs the funds to make sure Canada does not lose some of its best workers.
CAW officials and the Rideau Institute have pointed out the issue is especially important in light of a recent decision by Ottawa to reject a $1.3-billion offer by Alliant Techsystems, a U.S. company, for the space division of MacDonald Dettwiler.
CAW Director of Aerospace Dawn Cartwright told Newsnet that space industry projects help the overall economy and a variety of other industries.
"The technology developed for space translates into projects in the medical field ... and it also has applications for security purposes. There really are multiple uses for the technology," said Cartwright.
"Certainly, what happens in terms of space investment translates into a tremendous return to the Canadian economy and to the communities where our members work."
Staples noted that Canadians are excited by the nation's part in high-profile missions, but Ottawa needs to do more to make sure Canada does not give up an international leadership role in the future.
"Canadian technology is now sitting on Mars as part of the Phoenix mission. But these showcase achievements mask an underlying problem that our study found -- that Canada is lagging behind the G8," Staples said.
Staples also said additional support for Canada's space program is needed to give it some stability. The CSA has had three presidents in the span of three years.
"There's really been a lack of leadership since Marc Garneau left the space agency in 2005," he said.
"There's a lack of a steady hand, a vision."
Staples said engineers and Canadian workers are "standing around" and "wondering what's next"
