Procurement Canada officials recently threatened to punish any firms who violated the gag order on the proposed purchase of a light icebreaker. Procurement Canada has in the past appeared to be highly sensitive about the news media asking questions about military procurements. In March, Postmedia sent the department questions about potential issues with welds on the navy’s new Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships. But Procurement Canada immediately warned Irving Shipbuilding, which is constructing the vessels, that the news organization was asking questions. In 2016 Procurement Canada also tipped off an Irving representative that Postmedia was asking questions about the Canadian Surface Combatant program.

Source: National Post May 02, 2019 23:15 UTC