Carney’s $2.3B Telesat deal reignites scrutiny over CEO friend, lobbying loopholes and ethics rules
The $2.3B contract revives questions about Carney's ties to Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg, a previous $2.14B “Lightspeed” loan and lobbying transparency.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to award a $2.3 billion military satellite contract to Telesat has reignited Conservative concerns about his longtime friendship with the company’s CEO, his former role as Justin Trudeau’s economic adviser and what critics describe as gaps in Canada’s lobbying and ethics laws.
Announced Monday by Ottawa’s Defence Investment Agency and Telesat LEO, the agreement will provide the Canadian Armed Forces with secure satellite communications across the Arctic beginning in 2028. The contract—the largest in Telesat’s nearly 60-year history—could ultimately reach $2.7 billion if two optional five-year extensions are exercised.
