The David Florida Laboratory (DFL) is Canada's national facility for space technology testing.  It houses major test equipment not found elsewhere in a single place including but not limited to equipment for tests in thermal vacuum, vibration, antenna pattern, electromagnetic compatibility and mass properties.  Furthermore, the expertise of the DFL staff is well known both nationally and internationally, enabling DFL to offer reliable and efficient services to Canadians.  There is no other facility like it in Canada.  DFL’s unique capabilities led to the success of the James Webb Telescope among many others.  Canadian space companies rely on DFL to provide services that they cannot find anywhere else in the country, that would be too expensive if sought in foreign countries and that would be unsustainable if housed internally within any one company.

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) announced in early 2024 that they would be closing DFL for budget reasons.  However the decision is largely unpopular within the Canadian space industry.  Running DFL is a responsibility that only government can assume.  As a national test facility, the focus is not on profit, but on national economic purpose.  The purpose of DFL isn't to be profitable.  The purpose is to enable Canadian companies to prosper and to promote economic activity for the benefit of Canadians.  Indeed, the return on investment in DFL is a 10-20 fold increase in national economic activity in the space sector, including revenue from exports. 

The closure of DFL directly impacts active contracts at Canadian companies, jeopardizing their ability to deliver on schedule and under budget.  It directly impacts the ability of Canadian companies to make future sales and to maintain viable business models.  It is also a national embarrassment that threatens the Canadian ability to export.

CSA's attempt to get industry to take over DFL in providing services to all Canadians is problematic.  CSA's role is to stimulate the economy.  Industry's role is to be profitable and thereby grow the wealth of all Canadians.  These roles cannot, in any practical sense, be reversed.

Immediate action is needed before DFL capabilities are lost beyond the point of no return.  DFL is currently hemorrhaging skilled labour and by the time it closes for good in March 2025, there will be no way to return to the level of competence and service it once provided.  A source of national pride on the international stage will be lost forever.

We therefore urge the Canadian government to reconsider and reverse its decision to close DFL before it is too late.  Saving $1 on closing DFL will mean losing $20 in economic activity in Canada which in turn would have generated $3 in tax revenue.  It doesn't make sense.  It is a losing strategy for Canadian government and for Canadians.