Entering a new Era of Astrophysics with the James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a 6.5m infrared-optimized space telescope slated for launch early in the next decade and poised to hugely impact, for decades to come, all fields of astrophysics. Equipped with four unique scientific instruments providing a wide variety of imaging and spectroscopic capabilities covering the wavelength range from 0.6 to 28 microns, JWST will provide unprecedented sensitivity for probing the early Universe, understand galaxy assembly/evolution, study protoplanetary systems, probe the atmosphere of a wide variety of exoplanets and establish the potential habitability of Earth-like temperate worlds.This paper provides a brief overview of the JWST mission along with a few highlights of Canadian science programs. Two decades after initiating the development of this powerful space observatory through an international partnership led by the United States, in collaboration with Europe and Canada, the core scientific mission of JWST remains relevant and unchallenged by existing facilities. JWST is a pivotal reference mission for guiding the development of future flagship international space-based observatories as well as giant ground-based telescopes. JWST should be financially-supported by CSA for its entire liefetime with appropriate resources devoted to Education and Public Outreach.White paper identifier W05