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Feds step up court fight to protect spy-related info in official-secrets case

Oct 29, 2019 | 2:05 PM

OTTAWA — The federal government is ramping up its court fight to keep a lid on documents detailing clandestine Canadian surveillance efforts.

Government lawyers are appealing a Federal Court decision ordering disclosure of sensitive information intended to help Qing Quentin Huang defend himself against charges of breaching Canada’s secrets law.  

It has been almost six years since Huang was arrested in Burlington, Ont., following an RCMP-led investigation called Project Seascape.

Huang, an employee of Lloyd’s Register, a subcontractor to Irving Shipbuilding Inc., was charged under the Security of Information Act with attempting to communicate secrets to China.

Police said the information related to elements of the federal shipbuilding strategy, which includes patrol ships, frigates, naval auxiliary vessels, science research vessels and ice breakers.

Huang, who claims innocence, is free on bail.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2019.

The Canadian Press