Sunday, February 16, 2025

MODG council vote moves Canso spaceport project closer to liftoff

  • January 29 2025
  • By Alec Bruce, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter    

GUYSBOROUGH — With a thumbs-up to Spaceport Nova Scotia’s commercial launch plans, Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) council last week approved rezoning a seven-acre site near Canso for a rocket tracking station.

“We held our public hearing on Jan. 8, with no written or oral objections to the request [to] rezone [the] land [at 233] Dover Rd. from mixed-use residential to light industrial,” Economic Development Officer Deborah Torrey told council before the final vote at the regular meeting on Jan. 22.

Moved by Deputy Warden Janet Peitzsche (Little Dover, Hazel Hill, Upper Fox Island, Tickle, Durrells Island) and seconded by Councillor Fin Armsworthy (Canso), council voted to approve the application from Spaceport Nova Scotia owner Maritime Launch Services (MLS), rather than “deny it or refer the matter back to staff” for more information or review.

In a previous council meeting, Peitzsche had indicated her enthusiasm for the rezoning, stating in December: “It’s good to see [MLS] doing something and moving forward. It’s been a long time [and] it’s great to see that [they’re] finally coming back into the mix.”

According to the application in November from MLS founder and CEO Stephen Matier, rezoning the parcel MLS purchased in 2021 was necessary to secure the spaceport’s first contract with a Canadian rocket manufacturer who hopes to begin orbital launch operations as early as next year. “This is an important long-term development for Maritime Launch, and for the community in Little Dover and Hazel Hill. Not only will this be the first revenue generation for our company, but there will also be direct economic benefit.”

The application did not stipulate the client’s name, but a press release from the company in October announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Montreal-based Reaction Dynamics to “enable a first ever orbital launch of a Canadian vehicle from Canadian soil on the coast of Nova Scotia.”

Established in 2016 and financed entirely through private investors, MLS has come under criticism from some members of the local community for its plans and business model. With net and comprehensive losses for the six months ending June 30, 2024 of $2,193,680, compared with losses of $2,525,551 in the year-earlier period, it has “no source of operating cash flow,” according to the notes to the company’s unaudited financial statements. “The ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the ability to obtain financing.”

Posting to a social media account on Jan. 9, a day after the public hearing and two weeks before last week’s council approval, MLS stated: “Hey ... we’ve got answers ... Site is ready for orbital launch, and rezoning approved unanimously ... We’re heading towards orbital launch no later than 2026. More to come.”