Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly’s department refused to name the contractor hired to oversee security at Canadian embassies abroad and did not specify whether the security firm was Canadian. The report followed protests by the Commons Government Operations Committee after managers hired a state-controlled Chinese contractor in 2020, per Blacklock’s Reporter.“Due to national security considerations the name of the supplier ultimately selected cannot be provided,” said a department report on Tuesday in response to the committee. Chinese contractor Nuctech Company Ltd., partly owned by state-run China National Nuclear Corporation, in 2020 was awarded a $6.8 million contract for X-ray scanners at Canadian embassies abroad. The company had been blacklisted as a US supplier since 2014 and was named in a federal Threat Assessment as having “direct connections to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).”No security check was done. The foreign affairs department “did not believe a security clearance was necessary,” an internal memo said at the time.The committee in a 2021 report demanded the contract be cancelled. Canada should “prohibit Chinese state-owned enterprises, partial state-owned enterprises including companies receiving undisclosed subsidies and technology companies from obtaining federal contracts related to information technology or security equipment and services,” wrote MPs.The Department of Foreign Affairs said Nuctech was removed from the bidders’ list. “The department has not and will not use Nuctech,” it said.The report was tabled in response to a question from Committee Chair Conservative MP Kelly McCauley. She asked, “Would you provide to the committee who you finally chose for scanners at our embassies?” Foreign affairs officials would not say.“Security and safety of people in Canada’s embassies, consulates and high commissions around the globe is a top priority,” wrote the department.“Any possible issue relative to security or safety is properly reviewed.”The earlier threat assessment report put forth by the committee said Nuctech should never have become a federal contractor. “Nuctech has been involved in several controversies including alleged bribery cases in Africa and Taiwan, and allegations the company sold inferior products at inflated prices to Malaysia and the Philippines,” it said. “The company is also accused of selling their products at a loss as part of a long-term strategy of dominating the market, so-called dumping.”Nuctech was awarded the standing offer over rival companies including Canadian bidders because it “had the lowest bid,” said a Department of Public Works memo..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly’s department refused to name the contractor hired to oversee security at Canadian embassies abroad and did not specify whether the security firm was Canadian. The report followed protests by the Commons Government Operations Committee after managers hired a state-controlled Chinese contractor in 2020, per Blacklock’s Reporter.“Due to national security considerations the name of the supplier ultimately selected cannot be provided,” said a department report on Tuesday in response to the committee. Chinese contractor Nuctech Company Ltd., partly owned by state-run China National Nuclear Corporation, in 2020 was awarded a $6.8 million contract for X-ray scanners at Canadian embassies abroad. The company had been blacklisted as a US supplier since 2014 and was named in a federal Threat Assessment as having “direct connections to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).”No security check was done. The foreign affairs department “did not believe a security clearance was necessary,” an internal memo said at the time.The committee in a 2021 report demanded the contract be cancelled. Canada should “prohibit Chinese state-owned enterprises, partial state-owned enterprises including companies receiving undisclosed subsidies and technology companies from obtaining federal contracts related to information technology or security equipment and services,” wrote MPs.The Department of Foreign Affairs said Nuctech was removed from the bidders’ list. “The department has not and will not use Nuctech,” it said.The report was tabled in response to a question from Committee Chair Conservative MP Kelly McCauley. She asked, “Would you provide to the committee who you finally chose for scanners at our embassies?” Foreign affairs officials would not say.“Security and safety of people in Canada’s embassies, consulates and high commissions around the globe is a top priority,” wrote the department.“Any possible issue relative to security or safety is properly reviewed.”The earlier threat assessment report put forth by the committee said Nuctech should never have become a federal contractor. “Nuctech has been involved in several controversies including alleged bribery cases in Africa and Taiwan, and allegations the company sold inferior products at inflated prices to Malaysia and the Philippines,” it said. “The company is also accused of selling their products at a loss as part of a long-term strategy of dominating the market, so-called dumping.”Nuctech was awarded the standing offer over rival companies including Canadian bidders because it “had the lowest bid,” said a Department of Public Works memo..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
