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The federal government launched the review on Feb. 27, 2012.

Renewal of the Canadian space program must start with clarity of purpose, Emerson said, and he suggested that the federal government clearly state that space, and space industrial capacity, is a national priority.

While other countries – including the United Kingdom, Japan and Brazil – have taken steps to modernize their space programs through national strategies and “stronger” governance, Canada’s priorities have been ambiguous and “below the necessary standard,” the report said.

Canada’s last long-term space plan was written in 1994.

Meanwhile, the core budget of the Canadian Space Agency has shrunk over the past decade even as Canada took on new commitments, the report said. Predictable funding for the CSA should be stabilized for a decade, the report recommended.

Federal Liberal leadership candidate Marc Garneau, Canada’s first astronaut in space and former president of the Canadian Space Agency, said the report highlights the importance of the aerospace sector to the country, but also identifies some problems plaguing it due to lack of government funding and direction.

The Canadian Space Agency is facing approximately $30 million in cuts over the next three years as part of the federal government’s multi-billion-dollar spending review.

“The government is not taking advantage of exploiting an area where Canada has clear expertise,” Garneau, an MP, said in an interview, insisting there’s “no logic” to the across-the-board cuts facing the space agency.