A Canadian man has been arrested for allegedly trying to sell classified information to the Chinese government about Canada's warship-building procurement strategy.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said Qing Quentin Huang, 53, of Burlington, Ontario, was arrested on Saturday and appeared in court on Sunday.

RCMP chief superintendent Jennifer Strachan said the suspect is charged with communicating with a foreign entity under Canada's Security of Information Act.

Police said the suspect works for Lloyd's Register, a subcontractor to Irving Shipbuilding. The information relates to Canada's strategy on building patrol ships, frigates, naval auxiliary vessels, science research vessels and ice breakers.

Police said the suspect acted alone in trying to pass information to the Chinese government.

"In these types of cases, sharing of information may give a foreign entity a tactical, military or competitive advantage by knowing the specification of vessels responsible for defending Canadian waters and Canadian sovereignty," Strachan said, describing it as valuable research and development information.

Police learned of the situation on Thursday and secured the information, Strachan said. "We are confident our prompt and firm intervention has limited the damage to our collective safety and security," Strachan said.

RCMP chief superintendent Larry Tremblay said Canada's foreign affairs department has been in contact with its Chinese counterparts about the case.

The suspect is due back in court on Wednesday for a bail hearing and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.