NEWS RELEASES
CANADA AND UNITED STATES SIGN AGREEMENT CONCERNING OPERATION OF COMMERCIAL REMOTE SENSING SATELLITE SYSTEMS
June 16, 2000 (5:00 p.m. EDT) No. 153
CANADA AND UNITED STATES SIGN AGREEMENT CONCERNING OPERATION OF
COMMERCIAL REMOTE SENSING SATELLITE SYSTEMS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright today signed an
agreement between Canada and the United States concerning the operation of commercial remote sensing
satellite systems.
"Canada and the United States have struck an agreement concerning the operation of commercial remote
sensing satellites authorized from our respective jurisdictions," said Mr. Axworthy. "Both governments are
developing a regulatory environment for these systems that balances the broad promotion of the private use of
high-performance imaging satellites with the need to protect national security and foreign policy interests. This
new agreement will foster enhanced co-operation between Canada and the United States as we pursue
competitive commercial endeavours in outer space."
National Defence Minister Art Eggleton welcomed today's announcement. "Canada and the United States have
co-operated on defence- and security-related issues for many years," said Mr. Eggleton. "This agreement
represents another significant achievement in addressing our mutual security needs."
The aim of the agreement is to ensure that commercial remote sensing satellite systems will be controlled in
each country in such a manner as to protect shared national security and foreign policy interests while
promoting the commercial benefits to be derived from these systems.
The agreement recognizes that Canada and the U.S. share mutual interests in regulating and controlling
commercial remote sensing satellite systems operating from their respective territories or subject to their
respective jurisdictions. Such systems are currently moving from public ownership to private ownership in both
countries. The agreement also specifically covers the operations of RADARSAT-2, Canada's first commercial
remote sensing satellite system.
Canada and the United States will undertake a series of consultations with respect to implementing the
agreement and increasing co-operation on various aspects of their respective policies for commercial remote
sensing satellite systems.
The agreement essentially applies to high-performance earth observation satellites used for such purposes as
cartography, land-use, and natural resource and environment management. It does not apply to meteorological,
navigation or communications satellites.
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The Joint Statement on Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite Systems is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Randy Mylyk
Office of the Minister of National Defence
(613) 996-3100
Media Liaison Office
Department of National Defence
(613) 996-2353
This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci-gc.ca.
CANADA/UNITED STATES JOINT STATEMENT
COMMERCIAL REMOTE SENSING SATELLITE SYSTEMS
Within the context of our close bilateral relationship in defence and security matters, respective national policies
of the Government of the United States and the Government of Canada reflect a common desire to protect
national security and foreign policy interests while promoting commercial gains from space-based remote
sensing. As a result, both our governments share mutual interests in regulating commercial remote sensing
satellite systems operating from our respective territories or subject to our respective jurisdictions in accordance
with national policies, laws and regulations.
Today, the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States reaffirm our commitment to
maintaining a partnership in the development and application of space technology, including the furtherance of
commercial remote sensing activities. As a reflection of this endeavour, the United States and Canada have
entered into an agreement that fosters broad private uses of commercial remote sensing satellite systems,
while protecting common national security and foreign policy interests.
The agreement, accommodating the advanced capabilities of RADARSAT-2, a Canadian synthetic aperture
radar satellite system to be launched by a U.S. commercial space launch vehicle in 2003, will contribute to
enhanced co-operation between our two countries in the commercial remote sensing satellite sector.
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