Government
of
Canada
Announces
Location
of
Satellite
Reception
Ground
Stations
for
Polar
Epsilon
March
30,
2009
The
Honourable
Peter
Gordon
MacKay,
Minister
of
National
Defence
and
Minister
for
the
Atlantic
Gateway,
announced
the
locations
of
the
two
satellite
reception
ground
stations
for
the
Polar
Epsilon
project,
marking
the
start
of
the
second
phase
of
this
vital
Arctic
surveillance
project.
The
ground
stations,
to
be
located
on
the
west
coast
in
Aldergrove,
British
Columbia
and
on
the
east
coast
in
Masstown,
Nova
Scotia,
will
be
key
components
of
the
Canadian
Forces'
enhanced
surveillance
and
security
capabilities
in
the
Arctic
and
our
maritime
approaches.
The
ground
stations
will
also
enhance
Canada's
ground
infrastructure
for
satellite
operations,
further
enabling
our
nation's
capacity
to
receive
and
exploit
space-based
data
for
defence,
maritime
security
and
the
monitoring
of
our
environment
and
natural
resources.
"These
ground
stations
will
help
Canada
to
exercise
our
sovereignty
in
the
Arctic,"
said
Minister
MacKay.
"Without
question,
Polar
Epsilon,
combined
with
the
extensive
capabilities
of
the
RADARSAT-2
satellite,
will
make
Canada
a
world
leader
in
using
space-based
radar
surveillance
technology."
"Our
Government
continues
to
make
major
investments
in
Arctic
research
that
will
fulfill
the
goals
of
our
integrated
Northern
Strategy,"
said
Chuck
Strahl,
Minister
of
Indian
Affairs
and
Northern
Development
and
Federal
Interlocutor
for
Metis
and
Non-Status
Indians.
"The
data
we
receive
from
Polar
Epsilon
will
help
protect
the
North's
environmental
heritage."
The
ground
stations,
which
will
be
wholly
owned
and
operated
by
the
Government
of
Canada,
will
receive
and
process
primarily
satellite
imagery
from
the
RADARSAT-2
satellite
launched
in
mid-December
2007
by
MacDonald
Dettwiler
and
Associates.
The
design
and
construction
of
the
ground
stations
will
start
immediately,
and
is
expected
to
be
completed
by
late
2010.
In
addition
to
enhancing
domestic
security,
increased
defence
investments
will
bring
economic
benefits
to
Canadian
industry.
The
Canadian
high
tech
and
aerospace
industries
will
profit
from
the
investment
of
millions
of
dollars
required
for
this
next
phase
of
the
Polar
Epsilon
Project.
