Defending Canada’s National Interest

April 11, 2008

This week, after a fair and focused deliberation, Industry Minister Jim Prentice advised that he was not confident the sale of Canadian aerospace company Macdonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. was of net benefit to Canada.

From Alouette I to the astronaut program, Canada has a record of excellence in the space sector. Canadian expertise is evident on projects ranging from Canadarm1; Canadarm2; and Dextre, through to the RADARSAT-1 and the RADARSAT-2, the James Webb telescope and a Mars weather station.

Canadians are rightly proud of their accomplishments and no one should doubt the determination of the Conservative Government to protect Canada’s interests. As Prime Minister Harper told Parliament: “As far as the aerospace sector is concerned, Canadians are proud of it. This government is determined to do what it takes to ensure the success of this sector, which is so important to the economy and to Canadian sovereignty in the long term.”

The Stéphane Dion’s Liberals have been quick to call for a rushed intervention in this sale. Yet, over their 13 years in power, the previous Liberal Government failed to block a single foreign takeover even though more than 1500 such applications were received. The Liberals also allowed investments in Canada’s national defence to stagnate, did nothing to assert the country’s Arctic sovereignty, and happily let Canada’s influence on the world stage diminish.

The Liberal era of weak leadership has ended.

Whether it is leading the new NATO consensus on Afghanistan, defending our Arctic sovereignty, not letting foreign big polluting countries jeopardize our made-in-Canada climate change plan or protecting Canada’s national interest in strategic industries, Canadians can count on the Conservative Government to defend our national interests at home and abroad.