Speaking Points

The Honourable Tony Clement, PC, MP
Minister of Industry and Minister Responsible for the Canadian Space Agency

25th Anniversary of Canada’s Human Space Flight Program

Ottawa, Ontario
October 5, 2009

Check Against Delivery

Good afternoon.

It is my honour and privilege today to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Canadian Human Space Flight Program.

As do many Canadians from across this nation, I remember clearly the day when Marc Garneau, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, began the journey that has inspired generations of young people in all our communities to work hard, to excel and to reach for their dreams.

Over the past 25 years, the members of our Canadian Astronaut Corps, working alongside our international partners, have carried out 15 missions to space.

Seven of these space flights have supported, and continue to support, the construction and use of the world’s largest microgravity scientific laboratory, the International Space Station.

Twenty-five years ago, the first members of the Canadian Astronaut Corps were Roberta Bondar, Marc Garneau, Steve MacLean, Bob Thirsk and Bjarni Tryggvason.

More than a decade later, new recruits stepped up in service to Canada and Canadians: Chris Hadfield, Julie Payette and Dave Williams.

In May of this year, from a pool of over 5300 candidates, Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques were selected to begin their training as the newest members of our Canadian Astronaut Corps.

Over the past 25 years, our astronauts have greatly contributed to enhancing global awareness of Canada’s growing scientific expertise and advanced technological innovation.

Through our participation in NASA’s Space Shuttle Program, we have demonstrated to the world our leadership in the design of space robotics, science instruments and advanced visioning systems that are beyond state-of-the-art.

Canada’s contribution of an advanced suite of robotics, including Canadarm2 and Dextre, has been absolutely critical to the assembly and maintenance of the International Space Station.

Canadians know only too well how important space is to enhancing the quality of their daily lives. Space technology is behind many of the services we take for granted every day — from the design of medical devices, cellular telephone services and high speed interactive communications to GPS and advanced weather forecasting.

This summer, the nation tuned in for the launch of Julie Payette and watched in awe as she operated all three robotic arms on the shuttle — the Canadarm, Canadarm2 and the Japanese robotic arm — to successfully install the external scientific platform on Kibo, the Japanese Experiment Module.

Just last week in Vulcan, Alberta, more than 700 students, teachers and family members joined the Alberta Minister of Education to participate in a downlink with Bob Thirsk. That exchange between our students and Bob Thirsk and crew on the International Space Station was carried over the Internet to reach students in 2000 schools across the province of Alberta.

Bob Thirsk is making all of us proud as Canada’s representative to the first 6 person international crew of the International Space Station, where he is completing a six-month space flight.

Today, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the launch of our Canadian Human Space Flight Program, we are giving witness to the power and potential of space.

Through their choice of advanced studies and careers, our Canadian youth will contribute to securing Canada’s future in the growing knowledge economy.

Space ignites a thirst for knowledge in our young people and inspires them to choose studies and careers in the sciences and technology.

Without a doubt, this is how it all started for Marc Garneau.

I would like to now call upon the President of the Canadian Space Agency, Dr. Steve MacLean to come to the podium to share a few words with us today and to introduce Dr. Marc Garneau.