RCMP arrest Toronto man for attempting to sell shipbuilding secrets to China

Leaked information about the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy

 December 1, 2013

TORONTO – The RCMP have arrested a 53-year-old man on charges of trying to sell classified information in what they call a “threat to Canada.”
Police allege Qing Quentin Huang was trying to sell classified information to China involving Canada’s shipbuilding procurement strategy.
RCMP Chief Supt. Jennifer Strachan says the man is charged with communicating with a foreign entity under the Security of Information Act.
Strachan says sharing of information in these cases could give a foreign country a military or competitive advantage by knowing the specifications of vessels responsible for protecting Canadian sovereignty.
She says police first learned of the case on Thursday and were able to act swiftly, making an arrest Saturday.
Strachan says police believe there is no great damage to Canada’s security.
The man appeared in court today and will be back in court on Wednesday for a bail hearing.
The following media release was issued by the RCMP in Toronto shortly after noon on Sunday:

This morning, the RCMP along with partners from the Toronto Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police detailed circumstances that led to the arrest of 53 year old Qing Quentin Huang of Toronto.   Mr. Huang has been charged under the Security of Information Act with two counts of attempt to communicate to a foreign entity information that the Government of Canada is taking measures to safeguard.

On Thursday, November 28, 2013, the RCMP was informed that Mr Huang was taking steps to pass sensitive information to authorities from the People’s Republic of China.  The information relates to certain elements of the Government of Canada National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy which includes patrol ships, frigates, naval auxiliary vessels, science research vessels and ice breakers.  “In these types of cases, sharing of information may give a foreign entity a tactical, military or competitive advantage by knowing the specifications of vessels responsible for defending Canadian waters and Canadian sovereignty,” stated RCMP Chief Superintendent Jennifer Strachan, the Criminal Operations Officer for the Province of Ontario. 

From the moment the RCMP was informed of the criminal nature of the actions, it initiated a Criminal Investigation dubbed Project Seascape.  “National Security Investigations are complex and this one was no different,” added RCMP Chief Superintendent Larry Tremblay, Director General of the RCMP’s Federal Policing Criminal Operations in Ottawa.  “It is important to understand that there is more to National Security than focusing solely on terrorism.  It’s about protecting Canadian interests and taking the steps we need to take to protect our sovereignty.”