Mayor Mark Sutcliffe welcomes weapons companies to CANSEC in Ottawa, May 31-June 1

Photo: Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

Despite concerns about transnational corporations profiting from war, human rights violations and environmental harm, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe is welcoming the CANSEC weapons show to Ottawa this coming May 31-June 1.

Sutcliffe writes: “On behalf of Members of Ottawa City Council, it is my distinct pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all those participating in CANSEC, presented by the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI).”

He adds: “CANSEC provides a valuable forum for federal defence, military, business and international stakeholders, in addition to first responders, border and security agencies to convene, network, and learn more about the latest cutting-edge technologies, products and services designed for land-based, naval, aerospace, and joint forces military units.”

Sutcliffe concludes: “Allow me to offer my best wishes to everyone in attendance for a productive and rewarding gathering, as well as a most enjoyable stay in Ottawa.”

THE COMPANIES MAYOR SUTCLIFFE IS WELCOMING

Among the 280+ exhibitors that will be at CANSEC:

Elbit Systems Ltd. (implicated in manufacturing the bullet that killed Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh),

Raytheon Technologies (that builds the missiles that will arm Canada’s new Lockheed Martin F-35 warplanes),

BAE Systems (that builds the Typhoon fighter jets Saudi Arabia uses to bomb Yemen),

L3Harris Technologies (whose drone technology is used for border surveillance and targeting laser guided missiles),

Bell Textron (that sold helicopters to the Philippines in 2018 even though its president once boasted he had thrown a man to his death from a helicopter and warned he would do the same to corrupt government workers),

Colt Canada (that sells C8 carbine rifles to the RCMP, including the rifles used by the controversial C-IRG unit against Wet’suwet’en land defenders),

Lockheed Martin (that has annual contracts worth $1.9 billion in nuclear weapons contracts,10 which are now illegal under international law).

OTTAWA AND ARMX/CANSEC

The precursor to CANSEC was ARMX.

In the 1980s that arms show was held at Lansdowne Park.

In April 1989, Ottawa City Council voted to stop the ARMX arms show taking place at Lansdowne Park and other City owned properties.

By 2009, Councillors Eli El-Chantiry and Rick Chiarelli led a successful effort to overturn that prohibition.

At that time, Councillor Clive Doucet said that it was “a blight on our history” to allow weapons fairs in our cities.

And Councillor Alex Cullen stated that he wanted the City to maintain its ban on arms shows to “promote peace and respect for human rights, and seek to avoid associating with activities that promote and profit from the business of war.”

#SHUTDOWNCANSEC

For more on the upcoming mobilization against CANSEC on May 31, please see this World Beyond War webpage.