The Quebec government in Canada is moving ahead with a new contract to install SpaceX Starlink internet in courthouses located in remote areas of the province, the Montreal Gazette reports.
The $826,000 CAD deal was awarded to an Alberta company that will install Starlink antennas and provide monthly service.
The decision comes amid rising trade tensions after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and energy exports in early March. Despite the political backdrop, Quebec says Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is the only system that meets the performance needs of its Circuit Court.
“There is currently no satisfactory alternative equivalent to Starlink technology that can meet the needs of the Circuit Court while also providing sufficient performance,” said Justice Department spokesperson Cathy Chenard in an emailed statement to the Gazette. She added that the province is still exploring other options.
Elon Musk supported Trump’s campaign and now heads the newly created U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
The contract was tendered in January and closed on February 3. When tariffs were first announced the next day, the Justice Department said it was reconsidering the deal. But it ultimately went ahead with the sole bidder.
Not everyone agrees with the decision. Julian Karaguesian, an economics professor at McGill and former federal trade official, said alternatives like Europe-based Eutelsat should be considered. He also argued that Canada should respond to U.S. tariffs not with trade retaliation, but by focusing on domestic procurement.
Now, Eutelsat only has low-Earth orbit satellites because it merged with OneWeb, which has over 600 satellites. But Eutelsat deals mainly with telecom and enterprise customers. Starlink’s advantage is its direct to consumer model and the constant refreshing of satellites with new tech.
In contrast to Quebec’s approach, Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently axed a $100-million Starlink contract to connect rural communities, and said U.S. companies will be banned from bidding on Ontario government contracts in response to the tariffs.
Quebec was an early adopter of Starlink, awarding a $130-million CAD deal three years ago to expand high-speed internet access in rural areas. That work is now complete.
Coalition Avenir Québec MNA Gilles Bélanger said in February that the province is now working with Ottawa to develop Canadian alternatives to reduce dependence on Starlink.
That may be harder than it sounds. Starlink is vertically integrated as it can launch its own satellites and also manages and creates its own software for both dishes and satellites, making for a better customer experience.
