MDA will continue to benefit Canada

Re: A ‘Stealth Takeover’ of Canadian space tech, Oct. 17.

There has been no takeover and much direct benefit to Canada. MDA is a Canadian success story. Founded 47 years ago, MDA is now a global communications and information company with revenues of more than $2 billion.

We have been transparently pursuing an international expansion strategy for years, focused on the U.S., which is the world’s largest space market.

Recently, MDA has created a U.S. holding company, SSL MDA Holdings, which will facilitate sales to the American government. This holding company is 100 per cent owned by MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd, which remains headquartered in Canada.

MDA’s Canadian operations will continue unchanged, managed by our Canadian management team. The workforce for our radar, robotics and satellite communications antenna and electronics businesses remains in Canada. Research and design will continue to be done in Canada and we will continue to export from Canada.

MDA is a success story that we should celebrate, not decry. Don Osborne, president, MDA Information Systems Group.