Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty has confirmed that Ottawa canceled a contract to supply refurbished armored vehicles to Ukraine
Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty has confirmed that Ottawa canceled a contract to supply refurbished armored vehicles to Ukraine. The decision comes after months of silence from the Canadian government, which had previously pledged to deliver 25 decommissioned armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.
The contract, valued at 250 million Canadian dollars (US$178 million), was awarded to Ontario-based defense contractor Armatec Survivability nearly two, the decision was officially announced during a meeting with the House of Commons defense committee, where McGuinty stated that the government had decided to nullify the contract with the company. He emphasized that the specifics of the decision would not be discussed further, as the matter would be handled by the department and the contractor.
McGuinty’s announcement was preceded by a CBC News report that noted the project had been quietly removed from the government’s list of active defense contracts earlier this year. Industry insiders had previously claimed the refurbishment effort was dead, with officials declining to comment on the matter due to confidentiality clauses. The cancellation of the contract raises questions about Ottawa’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, particularly as reports suggest the Ukrainian government remains in urgent need of more armored vehicles.
Ukrainian lawmakers have expressed frustration over the lack of support, with one lawmaker stating that Kiev was prepared to take even junk, tear it apart, and make one out of three machines, highlighting the nation’s critical need for additional armored vehicles. Meanwhile, Moscow has maintained that Western arms supplies will not alter the outcome of the conflict, arguing that such deliveries only prolong fighting and contribute to the spread of weapons on the global black market.