The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Oct. 22, edition that Defence Minister David McGuinty says Ottawa is boosting Canada's space and defence sectors by investing in rocket launch capabilities, satellite technology and new military roles to attract further investment. The Globe's Irene Galea writes that Ottawa has signed a 10-year, $20-million agreement with NordSpace to access its Atlantic Spaceport Complex in Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. McGuinty says Ottawa has earmarked $17.9-million through its Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program to help Canadian companies develop satellite communications, particularly for remote regions. Over the past year Ottawa has signed more than $3-billion in contracts and agreements across its four space priorities: monitoring and surveillance, space domain awareness, secure satellite communications, and sovereign space launch. These include a $2.3-billion contract with Telesat to deliver high-speed, secure military connectivity in the Arctic, a $688-million contract with MDA Space for a new radar satellite to help survey the North and the three-year, $105-million Launch the North program to help Canadian companies build sovereign rocket-launch technology.