Canada delays decision on sale of space firm

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

OTTAWA (AFP) — Canada on Thursday delayed approval of the sale of its leading space firm MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates to a US defense contractor as opponents of the deal feared a major setback in Canada's space capabilities.

Industry Minister Jim Prentice decided to take 30 more days to review the purchase of MDA, builder of the robot Dextre attached to the International Space Station, by US firm Alliant Techsystems for 1.3 billion dollars (Canadian, US).

The sale was announced in January, and under Canadian law the minister would normally have until March 22 to decide if the sale is in Canada's interests.

Prentice's spokesman Ghyslain Charron told AFP a final decision was deferred to April 21, but declined to say why.

In addition to Dextre,...