Canada’s plan to donate refurbished armour to Ukraine seems to be on the scrap heap

[ad_1] Ukraine has but to obtain the greater than two dozen refurbished mild armoured automobiles Canada promised to the war-torn nation in September 2023, CBC Information has discovered.

The automobiles stay caught in bureaucratic and company limbo — regardless that the Division of Nationwide Defence delivered the decommissioned automobiles to an Ontario-based firm for reconstruction nearly two years in the past.

The destiny of the restoration contract, publicly acknowledged round Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s high-profile go to to Ottawa and believed to be value between $150 million and $250 million, but is now shrouded in secrecy.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged on the time that along with supplying brand-new mild armoured automobiles, his authorities was "working with Canadian trade to supply Ukraine with refurbished Canadian Armed Forces armoured automobiles."

He stated it represented "certainly one of many initiatives underway the place Canada is leveraging completely different sources to assist our Ukrainian counterparts, together with via modern allied coalitions, working with Canadian trade and leveraging our personal navy shares."

The Canadian Business Company (CCC), a federal company that handles worldwide commerce offers, listed the plan in its spring 2025 quarterly report below the outline “defence automobiles” produced by a “Canadian exporter.”

Nevertheless, the contract — which CBC Information has confirmed was with Armatec Survivability in Dorchester, Ont., positioned exterior of London — was dropped from the June 2025 quarterly report itemizing.

Each CCC and the Division of Nationwide Defence (DND) refused to elucidate the delay. Nor will they make clear the standing of the contract after being contacted a number of occasions by CBC Information.

“As a part of the Authorities of Canada’s help to Ukraine, CCC has been facilitating DND’s buy of 25 refurbished mild armoured automobiles (LAVs) from Armatec Survivability Corp. for donation to the Ukrainian authorities,” CCC spokesperson Mouktar Abdillahi stated in a written assertion.

“CCC continues to handle the file. Nevertheless, as a result of business confidentiality obligations CCC is unable to supply additional particulars.”

There are, nevertheless, persistent rumours within the defence group that the challenge has been cancelled and Ukraine is not going to get the rebuilt automobiles as promised.

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He's satisfied the deal is useless.

“It is unnecessary why they walked away from a promise to ship a minimal of 25 refurbished LAVs to assist Ukraine shield their troopers,” stated Bezan.

He stated he was “fully puzzled and flabbergasted that the federal government would put a gag order” on the corporate, provided that it seems there’s not a contract.

Prime Minister Mark Carney promised to revitalize the Canadian defence industrial base and spur innovation so these firms can compete for contracts on a world foundation.

<img loading="lazy" alt="A Canadian tracked light armoured vehicle on exercises in Latvia in late February 2025" srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/1.7473260,1741035574000/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6048%2C4024%29%3BResize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/1.7473260,1741035574000/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6048%2C4024%29%3BResize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/1.7473260,1741035574000/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6048%2C4024%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/1.7473260,1741035574000/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6048%2C4024%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.502982107355865" data-cy="image-img"/> A Canadian tracked mild armoured automobile — not the sort promised to be donated to Ukraine — is seen in Latvia in late February. (Murray Brewster/CBC) Bezan has toured the corporate’s facility.

Armatec has constructed an indication automobile for the Ukraine challenge that options an improved cannon and a distant weapons station that helps to guard the crew, Invoice Blair, the previous defence minister, stated final 12 months.

The corporate's promotional supplies present it makes use of a revolutionary — however confirmed — restoration course of. For that purpose, Bezan says the delay and doable revocation of the deal is mind-boggling.

“It flies within the face of the guarantees which were made by the Liberals to assist Ukraine. It flies within the face of Mark Carney's promise to make use of the defence trade to rebuild and strengthen Canada's financial system,” stated Bezan.

Confidentiality constraints cited Questions in regards to the standing of the contract have been posed repeatedly to each the business company and the Defence Division over a number of weeks, each of which declined to elucidate.

“Canada stays unwavering in its assist for Ukraine and its precedence to supply navy help that's each well timed and instantly operational for Ukraine’s Armed Forces,” stated a written assertion from Defence Minister David McGuinty’s workplace final month.

“On account of confidentiality obligations and ongoing business discussions with Armatec, the Division of Nationwide Defence can't touch upon this specific challenge.”

The assertion added that Canada is within the means of delivering as much as 50 armoured fight assist automobiles (ACSVs) to Ukraine, which have been manufactured at Common Dynamics Land Techniques-Canada.

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Armatec, additionally citing confidentiality, declined to elucidate the delay and directed all questions again to CCC.

“Independently of CCC, Armatec stated it's prepared, prepared and in a position to provide infantry combating automobile upgrades to our allies in assist of their defence efforts and the necessity to rearm Europe,” stated Karl Pfister, president and CEO of Armatec, in a written assertion.

“Armatec is a Canadian firm utilizing Canadian employees to advance Canadian innovation and know-how with a view to the deployment of infantry combating automobiles that surpass present capabilities.”

Two years in the past, DND acknowledged it has 195 LAV II Bisons and 149 Coyote armoured reconnaissance automobiles which can be within the means of being taken out of service.

Within the spring of final 12 months, a number one Ukrainian parliamentarian met with Blair and different senior Canadian defence officers, pleading for entry to the decommissioned shares and for the speedy completion of the Armatec contract.

"Ukrainians are able to take even junk, tear it aside and make one out of three machines. That is one thing that may shield our troopers," Oleksandra Ustinova, the top of Ukraine's particular parliamentary fee on arms and munitions, advised CBC Information on the time.

Ukraine’s new ambassador to Canada expressed common concern in regards to the destiny of the contract.

“We're extraordinarily grateful for all the help packages donated by the Canadian facet,” stated Andrii Plakhotniuk in a written assertion.

“It's vitally necessary for the Ukrainian facet that every one navy help declared by the Canadian authorities be delivered to Ukraine on the earliest comfort.”