CCA to examine the impact of geodetic infrastructure on the Canadian economy

Canada does not have its own Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and its geodetic infrastructure is missing core elements that enable positioning, navigation, and time (PNT) synchronization. A robust geodetic infrastructure—the backbone for everything from aviation safety to Arctic observation—allows nations to ensure the integrity of their own PNT services in a world increasingly dependent on satellite-based positioning.

Geodetics, also known as geodesy, is the science of measuring the Earth’s size, shape, orientation, and gravity field and how they change over time. Geodetic infrastructure is foundational to most PNT activities on Earth, helping to monitor climate change, support emergency services, bolster telecommunications, and enable efficient transport and logistics operations, among numerous other systems and processes. Users across sectors are increasingly in need of accurate and real-time geodetic information.

At the request of Natural Resources Canada, the CCA will assess how geodetic infrastructure impacts Canada and its economy. This assessment will examine opportunities associated with renewed domestic investment in geodetic infrastructure, the risks associated with reduced access to high-quality geodetic information, and whether Canada has sufficient infrastructure to meet the needs for its activities reliant on geodetic information.

An expert panel will be appointed in the coming weeks, and the report is expected to be published in late 2026.