Canadian space launch legislation awaits fall debate while US agreement stalls

The Canadian parliament has reconvened with Bill C-28, known as the Canadian Space Launch Act, awaiting further debate this fall, SpaceQ Canada and SpaceQ reported. The legislation was in its second reading in April 2026 before the House of Commons took its summer break. Bill C-28 would amend the Aeronautics Act as part of efforts to establish regulatory frameworks for domestic space launches. [1][8]

SpaceQ Canada and SpaceQ both report that a Technology Safeguards Agreement with the United States remains unsigned after more than two years. Ottawa previously announced that substantive negotiations on the treaty had been completed. The agreement is required to allow rockets built in the United States to launch from sites in Nova Scotia. [1][8]

The Canadian Space Agency is the national space agency of Canada. It was established in 1990 under the Canadian Space Agency Act. [9]

Separately, Canadian space startup NordSpace has successfully deployed its first satellite into orbit, according to reports from The Des Moines Register and EIN News. The companies noted that NordSpace has become the first Canadian launch company to operate hardware in space. [2][3]