The federal government is moving to protect “confidential or potentially harmful information” from disclosure during a court challenge to its decision to return turbines repaired in Montreal to a Russian energy giant.
In a filing in federal court, the attorney general will seek confirmation that certain information warned by the Department of Justice must not be disclosed in Turbine’s legal proceedings.
In early July, Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie issued a permit to Siemens Energy Canada to repair turbines used by Russia’s state-owned gas company Gazprom.
Ukraine has criticized the Canadian government for agreeing to Germany’s request to exempt Siemens from sanctions so it can return turbines used in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline that supplies Germany with natural gas.
The turbine was under repair at Siemens’ Montreal facility. This facility is the only place in the world where equipment can be maintained.
It was supposed to be delivered to Germany and from there to Russia, but Russian authorities have so far refused to accept it.
The World Congress of Ukraine and Daniel Vilac, a Canadian living in Ukraine, have applied for judicial review of the permit decision.
On August 3, attorneys for the Department of Justice notified the Attorney General under the Canadian Evidence Act that they believe some of the information presented in the court proceedings contains confidential information.
Redacted records have been made public, but the government says some information should be kept secret.
Canada’s permit also allows Siemens to import, repair and return five other turbines in use at Nord Stream 1 according to a maintenance schedule, valid until the end of 2024.
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