Canada’s defence minister visited a major armoured vehicle manufacturer in Brampton on Tuesday, while anti-war activists continued to criticize the company over some of its international sales.
David J. McGuinty toured the facility of Roshel Inc. and met with the company’s CEO, Roman Shimonov.
The visit followed a February announcement that 383 Senator armoured vehicles produced in Brampton will be included in a $6.5-billion Canadian military aid package to support Ukraine in its defence against invading Russian forces.
In a statement, McGuinty said Canada remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said the armoured vehicles manufactured in Brampton will help protect Ukrainian troops and improve their mobility during battlefield operations.
Roshel is one of North America’s largest manufacturers of smart armoured vehicles. The company operates a $65-million manufacturing plant in Brampton and has hired more than 250 Ukrainian refugees since the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022.
The company’s Senator armoured vehicles can be equipped with weapon systems such as a 7.62-millimetre machine gun and can also be fitted with mine-resistant protection capable of withstanding explosions of up to six kilograms.
Roshel says more than 2,200 Senator vehicles have been delivered to support Ukraine since the war began.
However, the company has also faced criticism from activists. The group World Beyond War Canada has protested Roshel’s previous export of more than 30 armoured vehicles to the Israel Defense Forces and the sale of 20 Senator vehicles to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford had earlier welcomed the deal with U.S. immigration authorities, calling it a positive development.
The armoured vehicles were reportedly seen in use during enforcement operations by U.S. immigration authorities following the death of Alex Pretti, a nurse who was shot during a confrontation involving immigration agents earlier this year.
Last week, members of World Beyond War Canada held a protest outside the Roshel facility in Brampton, where activists gathered during a shift change to raise concerns about what they described as the company’s role in global conflicts.
The group has also criticized the recent failure of Bill C-233, proposed legislation aimed at restricting Canadian arms exports linked to potential war crimes or human rights violations.