A massive $1.5 billion telescope project that was threatened by Canada’s reticence has been saved at the last minute with a pre-election funding announcement of $243.5 million.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is in Vancouver today, announced Canada will fulfill its commitment to the Thirty Meter Telescope project after all.
That commitment has been in doubt for more than a year.
The project is important for B.C., since it was a B.C. company – Port Coquitlam’s Dynamic Structures Ltd. – that designed the telescope’s unique “calotte” housing and is most likely to be awarded the fabrication contract, but only if Canada remains a partner in the project.
And it is B.C. scientists who are expected to provide key components of the telescope’s adaptive optics, which will allow the telescope to eliminate atmospheric noise to provide the kind of clear picture of deep space that heretofore was only possible with the Hubble space telescope.
"We're delighted the Canadians are in because they bring so much clever scientific leadership and technology leadership to the project," said Mike Bolte, a member of the board of directors for the TMT International Observatory. "Canada's a good partner here."
The bulk of the $243 million is expected to be spent in B.C.
Canada is one of five country partners that signed on to the TMT, which is to be built in Hawaii.
Being a partner entitles Canadian astronomers to 20% of the telescope’s time.
“This investment guarantees Canadian scientists’ access to what will be one of the most advanced pieces of astronomical research equipment,” said John Hepburn, vice president of research at the University of BC.
Providing partnership funding is also key to awarding contracts to build the telescope.
Japan, for example, is one of the partners, so a Japanese company, Mitsubishi Corp., has the contract to build the telescope itself.
As reported two years ago by Business in Vancouver, Dynamic Structures and officials with the TMT project expressed concern over Canada’s ongoing commitment to the project.
Construction was originally to expected to start in April 2104. But neither China nor Canada had confirmed their commitments to ongoing funding of the project.
Had Canada backed out, Dynamic Structures would likely have lost the contract to fabricate the telescope’s housing.
Now that the funding has been approved, it’s expected to create more than 100 jobs for Dynamic Structures, a subsidiary of Empire Industries Ltd. (TSX-V:EIL).
"All Canadians should be immensely proud of the fact that two critical elements of the TMT have been entrusted to Canadian industry for construction,” Guy Nelson, CEO of Empire Industries and industry co-chairman of the Coalition for Canadian Astronomy.
