Let the Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, the Minister responsible for Procurement, Filomena Tassi, and Minister of Defence, Anita Anand know you call on them to:
- Cancel the procurement process for an estimated $5 B contract for armed surveillance drones;
- Cancel the contract with Elbit Systems for Arctic surveillance drones;
- Prohibit ZIM ships from accessing Canadian ports; and
- End all trade in weapons with Israel through a two-way arms embargo and ending military-security cooperation with Israel.
Over 1000 letters were sent pre-election. An additional almost 3500 letters were sent after the new cabinet was in place.
The Canadian government is moving nearer to obtaining armed drones, worth $5 billion of Canadian taxpayer dollars, and so we have asked for clarification. See our letter and response below.
Team Artemis has said publicly:
“After some delays along the way, the revitalized RPAS procurement process has resulted in two teams being qualified to bid on the project. One of these teams is ‘Team Artemis’, a partnership between MAS, a subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Team Artemis is proposing the Artemis UAV for RPAS, which is a Canadianized version of IAI’s Heron TP drone. The other bidder is Team SkyGuardian, which is comprised of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), CAE, and MDA.”
Read more: CDR-Vol-26_Iss-3-TEAM-ARTEMIS-PROFILE.pdf (teamartemis.ca)
Response to our inquiry on status of the $5B drone contract
Dec. 20, 2021
This is further to your email of December 6, 2021, concerning Canada’s project for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System.
Through public notices spanning several years, Canada has made announcements, provided updates and held consultations with industry. The websites you referred to in your email provide the most up to date information regarding the estimated costs and the project timelines, including the estimated contract award date. The websites are updated on a regular basis to reflect any changes to the project.
In May 2019, following intensive consultation with the industry, Canada launched the procurement process with an invitation to qualify. Two suppliers qualified under the process: L3 Technologies MAS Inc. and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. This competitive procurement process is in accordance with all Government of Canada contracting regulations, procurement policies and international trade agreements. The bid with the best overall proposal will be recommended for contract award in accordance with the process that will be described in the request for proposal.
Canada committed to acquiring a remotely piloted aircraft system as part of its defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged. These remotely piloted aircraft will be integrated into a network of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems to enable near real-time flow of information essential to the Royal Canadian Air Force operations.
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
RPAS Team
Public Services and Procurement Canada
tpsgc.pasatp-aprpas.pwgsc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca
Our email to the Canadian government:
December 6, 2021
Could you provide us with an update on the timing of when this contact may be awarded?
We understand the estimated cost of the contract will be $5B. Is that still accurate?
Are these the pages that provide information on the process?
https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/amd-dp/air/snac-nfps/sdat-rpac-eng.htmlhttps://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/procurement/remotely-piloted-aircraft-system.html
https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-RPS-002-27808http://dgpaapp.forces.gc.ca/en/defence-capabilities-blueprint/project-details.asp?id=977
Are these now the only two companies in the running for the contract?L3 Technologies MAS Inc.
United States Government and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
Our understanding is that no consultation has been undertaken with the general public about this contract, even though it involves remotely aircraft that can be armed, and that is being used for surveillance. What if any consultation have/will be undertaken?
Sincerely
Karen Rodman, Just Peace Advocates
50+ organizations representing through Coalitions over 70 organizations have endorsed.
They include:
Academics for Palestine-Concordia
Al-Haadi Musalla
Al-Quds Committee Toronto
Arab Palestine Association of Ontario
BanKillerDrones.org
Barmard-Boecker Centre Fdtnn
Canada Palestine Association
Canada Palestine Support Network — CanPalNet
Canadian Arab Federation
Canadian BDS Coalition
Canadian Council of Muslim Women Montreal
Canadian Foreign Policy Institute
Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Catholics for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land
Coalition Aganist Israeli Apartheid
Collectif Échec à la guerre
Collectif Judéo Arabe et Citoyen pour la Palestine
Early Childhood Development Intercultural Partnerships Program
Environmentalists Against War
Fields of Peace
Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice
Fondation canado-palestinienne du Québec (CPFQ)
Friends of Sabeel North America
GreaterToronto for BDS
Hamilton Coalition To Stop The War
HR4A ( Human Rights for All) Saskatchewan
Independent Jewish Voices Canada
International Solidarity Movement
Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
Just Peace Advocates
Justice For All Canada
Justice for Palestinians
Justice For Palestinians, Calgary
Labor for Palestine
Labour Against the Arms Trade
MidIslanders for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO)
Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine-Israel (NMJPI)
Nonviolence International Canada
Oakville Palestinian Rights Association
Palestine House
Palestine Solidarity – St Johns
Palestine Solidarity Network – Edmonton
Palestinian and Jewish Unity
Palestinian Youth Movement-Vancouver
Peace Alliance Winnipeg
Peacehome Campaign, Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW and the Coalition to Divest Philadelphia from the War Machine
Peaceworks Midland
Regina Peace Council
Resistance Art
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
Socialist Action / Ligue pour l’Action socialiste
Solidarité populaire Estrie
Toronto Raging Grannies
Veterans for Peace ch 27
Victoria Peace Council
World BEYOND War
Organizations can join in supporting this campaign HERE.
