Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield plays Christmas carols while floating over the Mediterranean on Dec. 25, 2012. The Sarnia-born astronaut is aboard the International Space Station. (Submitted photo)

MONTREAL — While Chris Hadfield circles Earth on one of Canada's most high-profile space missions, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) sources told QMI Agency that they worry the country's space program's days are numbered.

Numerous sources at the CSA, which is headquartered just south of Montreal and employs 700 people, said the agency is slowly dying due to financial problems and a lack of federal government support.

The first Canadian in space and Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidate, Marc Garneau, told QMI Agency that he isn't surprised.

"There is certainly reason to be very worried," he said. "I saw that in 2009 when the president of the agency presented a strategic plan, it went nowhere (under the Conservatives)."

In January, CSA president Steve MacLean resigned before the end of his mandate. Sources told QMI Agency that he quit because he was frustrated his projects weren't materializing.