Article from Ottawa Business Journal
By Elizabeth Howell,
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Doubts arise in Ottawa that MacLean's mandate to revitalize Canada's space program will succeed
The first task of Steve MacLean, the newly appointed president of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), will be to thaw the chill surrounding the country's reputation in space.
The agency he heads has not had a permanent president in three years. In 2008 alone, two astronauts retired and the maker of the Canadarm, a national symbol, was almost sold to a firm in the United States.
And although the high-profile designation on Sept. 2 will shine a light on Ottawa aerospace firms - some of which Mr. MacLean, a former astronaut, worked with for decades - concerns have arisen that the space agency cannot do enough to move local research forward.
The CSA's $370-million budget is widely criticized as being far too small. But firms say the problem goes beyond money. It's also laissez-faire attitudes that Mr. MacLean will have to shake.
"The fact is, (the CSA) has put out announcements of opportunity in the past, and then never award the contract," says one Ottawa contractor who requested anonymity.
"So they're wasting our time, and this has all got to be cleaned up. When they put out a contract, they have to follow through with it and disperse the funds."
Contracts are often awarded equitably by region rather than by merit, he adds, which stops research from keeping pace with other countries.
"So we're strangled, because they have to use this distribution of wealth and they have a small budget."
The agency's string of four short-term presidents in three years also dogs the agency's ability to get Ottawa's corporate aerospace research off the ground.
"One of the problems with our activity is been there hasn't been stability at the top (of the CSA), and it takes a while to get programs established," says Mike Darch, a member of the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation who was president of Lansdowne Technologies, which works in aerospace.
"The Canadian Space Agency has suffered a little bit from lack of recognition and a lower profile, and I personally believe it is necessary to raise that."
After repeated calls to the CSA over several days, its media relations office said Mr. MacLean was unavailable for comment before press time. The Nepean native, who earned a PhD in laser physics from York University, spent 25 years as an astronaut and flew twice into space.
Local firms speak fondly about Mr. MacLean's work in Ottawa, which stretches through most of his time at the agency. On his first spaceflight in 1992, he tested a vision system for the Canadarm developed by Ottawa's Neptec. He also worked on next-generation robotics with Lansdowne.
"He is very well-respected in NASA and the international space community," says Mr. Darch. "He's held positions within the space program that have put him in touch with a lot of people. He's had a long affiliation and a positive affiliation with Ottawa."
His appointment now comes at a critical time for the space program. With Canada's aging astronaut corps now down to three people, the CSA is searching for two new recruits to fill in spots for the next generation of spaceflight after the shuttle's retirement in 2010.
What to do next, especially with American eyes set on the moon and Mars, is an open question. "What we really need is more government interest in the space sector, and what the space industry can deliver . . . and ultimately, increased funding," says Neptec president Iain Christie.
"We've been trying to get governments to understand that what we do is essentially what they want us to do," he says, adding that the Ottawa aerospace industry is prepared to step up its research efforts with the right kind of support.
"There are so many things that come out of the technology for us to be involved in, to do it in a co-operative way, but also to do it with the countries that do have a capacity and be part of the community.
"We should continue to make it a priority investment," he added.
Making it a worthwhile investment, though, will require constant consultation with aerospace firms in Ottawa and in other markets to find out where Canada can best fill its niche, says Ron Kane, vice-president of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada.
"Having Steve MacLean in the chair will lead to a higher level of industry consultation and interaction," he adds.