Another Commons committee to look at space technology sale

The controversial sale of Canada's largest space technology firm to an American arms maker will be scrutinized by a second parliamentary committee.

The Commons foreign affairs committee has unanimously agreed to hold hearings on the proposed sale of the Radarsat 2 satellite, Canadarm and Dextre by MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (TSX:MDA).

The $1.3-billion sale to Alliant Techsystems has drawn immense criticism as a sell-off of taxpayer-funded technology that is critical to Canadian sovereignty and national interest.

Industry Minister Jim Prentice is reviewing the transaction under the Investment Canada Act and the Commons industry committee has been hearing witnesses for weeks.

But Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier sidestepped the issue, even though he is the minister in charge of the Radarsat 2 satellite — the most contentious element in the sale.

MPs on the foreign affairs committee, including Conservatives, have agreed to an NDP motion that they need to look quickly into the Canada-U.S. security issues involved in the transaction.