Canada allows spy agency to use info obtained through torture

Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/225580.html

The Canadian government has given the country's spy agency the green light to use information extracted from suspects through torture, despite earlier claims that it would never use such data.

In a directive, issued in December 2010, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service was given permission to employ such information in cases where, it claimed, ‘public safety is at stake,’ a Canadian news agency reported Tuesday.

This comes despite the fact that in 2009, Canada's then-Public Safety Minister had pledged that the government would never use information obtained by torture.

The directive says that the information would be used in cases where “human life or public safety” are at risk as in such "exceptional circumstances," it might be urgent that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) "share the most complete information available at the time with relevant authorities, including information based on intelligence provided by foreign agencies that may have been derived from the use of torture or mistreatment."

Although, according to the directive, the CSIS is not permitted to use torture on its own suspects, it can accept and use information from agencies that may have used torture to extract the data.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has claimed that ignoring such information is "an unacceptable risk to public safety."

"Therefore, in situations where a serious risk to public safety exists, and where lives may be at stake, I expect and thus direct CSIS to make the protection of life and property its overriding priority, and share the necessary information -- properly described and qualified -- with appropriate authorities," he said.

Canada to set up military bases abroad

Canadian Minister of Defense Peter MacKay

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183110.html

The Canadian military says it plans to set up military bases in seven countries to gain the “capability for expeditionary participation in international missions.”

Canada's Minister of Defense Peter MacKay said on Friday that the main goal will be supporting the humanitarian and combat missions abroad, AFP reported.

The Canadian media said Ottawa has so far reached agreements to open new bases in Germany and Jamaica, and is negotiating with Kuwait. Other targeted countries include Senegal, South Korea, Kenya, and Singapore.

David Bercuson, a senior research fellow with the Canadian Defense and Foreign Affairs Institute, said the Canadian facilities are more likely to be "small storage facilities" comprising an airfield, a warehouse and two or three soldiers.

"They will be what you would call 'forward supply depots,' strategically placed near parts of the world where Canadian Forces might be deployed in future," he further explained.

Canada was forced in October 2010 to close a top-secret military base in Dubai that was part of a key supply route to Afghanistan after refusing to grant the UAE's two national carriers, Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways, more landing rights.

During the Cold War, Canada also maintained two bases in Germany but closed them in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Canada in biggest military deal with US

Lockheed Martin's F-35


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=135109§ionid=351020701



Canada has signed its biggest military purchase deal ever with the US valued USD 9 billion to buy 65 Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.

The new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets will replace Canada's fleet of CF-18s. The delivery of the planes is set to start in 2016. But the contract with Lockheed Martin is proving controversial. It was signed without a competitive bidding process. Canada's opposition has pledged to freeze the deal if it comes to power.

Canada's purchase is in line with the US government's plan to purchase about 2,400 jets for more than $300 billion for the Air Force, the Marine Corps and the Navy. The delivery of the aircrafts is set to start in 2016.

Besides Canada, seven other US allies (Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Australia, Denmark and Norway) have announced plans to buy F-35s.

The deal was signed without a competitive bidding process. Canada's opposition has pledged to freeze the deal if it comes to power.