The largest arms export contract in Canadian history is apparently no longer an arms deal

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is referring to a $14-billion deal to provide Saudi Arabia with light armoured vehicles as a contract for “transport vehicles.” And he says such equipment can’t be considered arms.

The characterization of the deal comes as Harper defends the contract with the Saudi Arabian regime.

The country’s human rights violations have been making news lately because of the Saudi decision to behead, then crucify a young man who protested against the government when he was 17 years old. British Prime Minister David Cameron issued a plea Sunday to the Saudi government not to proceed with that execution.

The Saudi courts have also upheld the sentencing of pro-democracy blogger Raif Badawi to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes. Badawi, whose family has been granted asylum in Canada, was sent to prison last year for insulting Islam.

Harper was criticized for the Saudi deal during the French language debate by NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe.

But the Conservative leader is positioning the contract in a more benign way.

“Let’s be clear what this contract is – it’s not an arms contract,” Harper recently told a radio station in London, Ont.

But defence industry sources say the deal is for the latest version of the light armoured vehicle made by General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada, in London. The Canadian Army is also purchasing the same 25-ton vehicle, which is equipped with a 25mm automatic cannon.

Saudi Arabia will acquire different versions of the vehicle, sources say.

Jane’s, the defence publication in the United Kingdom, noted Saudi Arabia already has a fleet of more than 1,400 light armoured vehicles purchased from General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada. They were produced in a variety of versions: some are designed as armoured ambulances while others are outfitted with 25mm cannons or a 90mm gun. Other versions carry 120mm mortars.

“Ten billion dollars is not an order for cargo trucks; it’s clearly an order for armored vehicles meant for combat,” James Hasik, a senior fellow with the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security in the U.S., noted in an analysis of the deal.

General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada beat out bids from Germany and France on the Saudi deal. Both of their vehicles were also equipped with weapon systems.

Doug Wilson-Hodge
, manager for corporate affairs for 
General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada, said because of stipulations in the contract, the firm cannot release any details about the vehicles, how many are to be produced or when they will be delivered. The company also cannot identify its customer as Saudi Arabia. However, the Conservative government revealed the vehicles were to be provided to the Saudis.

Activists have protested the deal, pointing out Saudi Arabia’s dismal human rights record.

The country has executed at least 175 people in the past year, most by beheading, according to a new Amnesty International report. Those executed included individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their offence, as well as disabled people.

But Harper said the deal must go through to protect Canadian jobs and because Saudi Arabia is a valued ally in the war against the Islamic State.

A union spokesman representing workers at General Dynamics said the NDP had been contacted and asked to back off its criticism of the Saudi deal.

But Unifor, which represents the employees, later said their representative “gravely misspoke” in an “error of judgment.” It called for the Conservative government to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the deal.

Original Article
Source: ottawacitizen.com/
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