Canada is sending over 50 surveillance cameras made in Hamilton to help Ukraine

Canada is sending more than 50 new drone cameras, made by Hamilton-based L3 Harris Technologies to Ukraine as part of a multimillion dollar lethal and non-lethal aid package for the beleaguered country.

These drones used in combat require cameras," said Defence Minister Anita Anand in an interview July 6 after she visited the Waterdown-based company. We are very enthusiastic about partnering with L3 Harris to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces (and) their fight for sovereignty."

Anand, who also visited a variety of locations in Hamilton throughout the day, including Eastern Food Market on the Mountain, said the government is pleased to have visited L3 Harris this morning to see first-hand what they are manufacturing for the Ukrainian Armed Forces."

We turned around the contract in days to provide these cameras to the Ukrainian Armed Forces," said Anand, a Liberal MP for Oakville.

She said 50 cameras for Ukraine's Turkish-built Bayraktar TB2 armed drones have already been delivered to the country. Another six cameras are on their way to Ukraine, said Anand. The Ministry of Defence financed the $50-million package that included the surveillance cameras. The armed drones have been successful in targeting Russian tanks and other armoured vehicles.

Anand said Canada will also provide maintenance to the cameras if they are struck in the course of battle."

In November 2021, L3 Harris Technologies announced the opening of a new $110-million, 330,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in Waterdown to address the company's electro-optical and infrared imaging technologies. Currently, 1,250 employees work at the facility or remotely, with a projection that 1,500 staff will be employed by 2025.

Anand said Canada's military aid to Ukraine prior to the 2022 budget included Carl Gustaf M4 anti-tank weapons, hand grenades, ammunition, sniper rifles and M777 howitzers. The 2023 budget provided the Defence Ministry with $500 million to purchase and deliver additional military aid, including Triple 7 howitzers, cameras for drones, ammunition, artillery, Roshel smart-armoured vehicles and 39 armoured combat support vehicles built by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, based in London, Ont., which had been destined for the Canadian Army, but will now be diverted to assist the Ukrainian forces.

Anand said Canada is confident the military aid the country is sending to Ukraine is being received by soldiers on the ground.

She said Canadian Armed Forces trained with about 33,000 of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the relationships between the armed forces and governments are very strong."

We have been assured that our military aid is reaching Ukrainian soldiers," she said.

When asked about Canada's commitment when NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the war could last for years, Anand referred to how important the Ukrainian community in the country, which numbers about 1.3 million, is to Canada.

This is one of the largest diasporas of Ukrainians anywhere in the world," said Anand. This is something we are doing for the fight for democracy and sovereignty, and we are doing it for Canadians and Ukrainians. We are standing with Ukrainians in the short and long-term."

Anand said Canada is providing not just military aid, but also humanitarian funding, and economic help.

Canada's assistance extends to providing financial resources to the estimated 20,000 Ukrainians who have fled to the country, including more than 200 to Hamilton. Hamilton councillors recently approved spending $1.34 million over two months to help the Ukrainian newcomers in the city. The city has requested the federal government cover the municipality's costs.

We will continue to support Ukrainians with various types of aid," said Anand. Individual requests, these are issues that will be taken up on a case-by-case basis."