Elsa Henchiri is leading NordSpace’s new Ottawa office as vice-president of policy and government relations. The company wants a Canadian orbital launch by 2028. She joined after 25 years in the federal public service. The certification delays other aerospace firms are already arguing about are in the industry’s case to Transport Canada.
Why Ottawa
The office opened on July 1, 2026. NordSpace put it in the capital so licensing and safety talks with federal regulators happen in the same city as the departments that write the rules. Henchiri’s background is safety and intelligence, which is the part of a launch file that is not the rocket itself.
What she did at Transport Canada
At Transport Canada she was director of safety policy and intelligence and worked on the commercial space-launch safety program and the framework for the Canadian Space Launch Act. NordSpace hired her to carry that regulatory knowledge into a company that still has to earn its permits. The Senate’s look at the department’s budget is in the June finance committee hearing.
The regulatory framework for the Canadian Space Launch Act was built to ensure that Canada can participate safely and effectively in the global space economy, and my focus at NordSpace will be to ensure that our operations remain at the forefront of that commitment.
Elsa Henchiri, vice-president of policy and government relations, NordSpace
The 2028 target
An orbital launch from Canada needs both the vehicle and the permits. Henchiri’s list is:
- Policy that commercial launches can actually use.
- Compliance on each mission before it flies.
- Government partnerships that turn into contracts.
- Safety rules for orbital operations.
- Alignment with other countries’ safety standards.
A fourth office
Ottawa is NordSpace’s fourth location. Being next to the departments that handle aerospace policy and defence spending matters while the industry is asking for faster certificates and more domestic launch infrastructure. The 2028 date is a company target, not a government promise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ottawa office for?
To deal directly with federal regulators while NordSpace works toward a Canadian orbital launch in 2028.
What did Elsa Henchiri do at Transport Canada?
She was director of safety policy and intelligence and worked on the regulatory framework for the Canadian Space Launch Act.
What does the 2028 date mean?
It is NordSpace’s target for launching Canadian payloads without relying on a foreign launch provider.
