The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) welcomes the initiatives of the CASCADOSS project. It is helping to build solid organisational foundations for those public sector bodies and SMEs which use the Free and Open Source GIS and Remote Sensing projects which OSGeo exists to support.

In carrying out analysis of appropriate software for use in GIS and RS projects relating to the Environment and management of Environmental Information, CASCADOSS is offering a invaluable service to both users and developers of FOSS4G projects.

Documentation and evaluation of software and standards for specific user communities is not a always focus of our software development communities. However, such efforts are necessary to reach our goal of spreading the use of Open Source software and its positive economic / organizational application in to new and broader constituencies. A third-party effort to offer clarity on licensing and future maintenance options to public sectors and SMEs will serve to provide mutual benefit for everyone in the broader FOSS4G community.

An effort like CASCADOSS serves as valuable bridge-building between the free software development community and GIS tools user communities. This is especially helpful for bridging between networks of specialists, scientists and scientific units such as those involved in Europena Union GMES Programme. CASCADOSS also aims to spread information on use of FOSS4G among EU countries with special focus on New Member States. This effort will encourage potential users in the broaden application of FOSS4G solutions.

Ottawa: Canada's industry minister confirmed that he is blocking the sale of leading space firm MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates to a US defence contractor, saying it provided no net benefit to Canada.

Industry Minister Jim Prentice first announced last month that he would block the proposed sale of MacDonald Dettwiler (MDA) to US firm Alliant Techsystems (ATK), amid fears the future of Canada's space industry, national security, and even its Arctic sovereignty could be jeopardized.

Under Canadian law, ATK had 30 days to appeal the decision. In a statement, Prentice said: "I have confirmed my initial decision that I am not satisfied that ATK's proposed acquisition of the Information Systems Business of MDA would likely be of net benefit to Canada."

Prentice underscored that "foreign investment plays an important role in the Canadian economy."

However, he added, "because this transaction would not demonstrate net benefit to Canada, it cannot be approved under the Investment Canada Act."

It is the first time Canada has nixed a foreign takeover since the law was enacted in 1985.

The sale of MDA, builder of the robot Dextre at the International Space Station, to ATK for 1.3 billion dollars was announced in January.

Since then, two MDA engineers quit in protest over the sale and another testified to a parliamentary committee on behalf of 12 employees opposed to the sale.

They argued that MDA's powerful observation satellite Radarsat-2, launched in December with 445 million dollars in Canadian government funding, and a key tool in mapping and keeping an eye on the Arctic, would be lost to Canadians.

Canada is at odds with the United States, as well as Russia, Denmark, and Norway over 1.2 million square kilometers (460,000 sq. miles) of Arctic seabed believed to hold 25 percent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas reserves.