Ottawa, ON – Blake Richards, Conservative Shadow Minister for Emergency Preparedness and Community Resilience, released the following statement on the Liberal government’s failure to deliver WildFireSat, their promised wildfire monitoring satellite:
“Four years after the Liberal government promised a wildfire monitoring satellite, WildFireSat remains nowhere in sight. The Liberals have cancelled a contract worth almost $72 million in taxpayer dollars, and Canadians do not know how much more this project could cost and how long delivery will take.
“As wildfires increasingly threaten communities, Canadians cannot afford more Liberal waste and broken promises.
“In 2022, the Liberal government committed $169.9 million to develop WildFireSat, a vital project to detect and monitor wildfires across Canada while helping emergency responders make better-informed decisions to protect lives and property.
“After nearly three years of procurement, the Liberals awarded a contract worth almost $72 million to exactEarthLtd., a Canadian subsidiary of a U.S.-based Spire Global. In April 2026, the Liberals cancelled that contract ‘for convenience’, leaving Canadians paying the price and without the promised satellite.
“Worse, the total cost of terminating the contract is still being negotiated, meaning the final costs could rise. Experts have also questioned whether the government can still meet its original 2029 launch target.
“Every delayed year means another wildfire season without the tools firefighters need to prevent and respond to emergencies.
“Canadians are not surprised. This is yet another expensive Liberal announcement with no real results.
“Meanwhile, the Liberal government has reduced staffing at the Government Operations Centre and cut wildfire monitoring and mapping resources at Natural Resources Canada. Canadians need stronger emergency preparedness, not fewer resources and capabilities.
“As the Liberals restart their procurement process and seek a new contract, Canadians deserve to know exactly how much more this failure will cost, what the new timeline is and if this promised satellite will ever be delivered.
“Conservatives will continue demanding accountability, a clear delivery timeline and the resources, personnel and coordination needed to keep Canadians safe in emergencies.”