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As the federal government tried to quell criticism of the sale, International Trade Minister François-Philippe Champagne ordered a review of the deal — leading an enraged Duterte to say he was cancelling it — and told reporters the CCC had been ordered to become less reliant on the defence sector. The corporation was also involved in the $15-billion sale of Canadian armoured personnel carriers to Saudi Arabia.

In fact, Ottawa’s efforts to have the CCC move beyond arms deals began more than two years ago but have had little effect, defence industry officials told Postmedia.

The CCC will promote its services this week to hundreds of military equipment companies as one of the sponsors of the annual CANSEC trade show in Ottawa.

Trying to hide wrongdoing behind the argument of commercial confidentially is the oldest trick in the book to avoid scrutiny,

Christyn Cianfarani, president of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries, the group that organizes CANSEC, confirmed the CCC’s diversification strategy has been underway for some time. “We have seen no evidence that this is diluting the organization’s defence activities,” she said.

The CCC saw the value of its military deals with the U.S. jump to $726 million in 2017 from $573 million in 2016. Defence contracts with other nations remained relatively steady, totaling $1.8 billion in 2015-16 and $1.6 billion in 2016-17.

Steve Staples, vice-president of the Ottawa-based Rideau Institute, doubts the CCC is putting much effort into moving away from military deals. “They collect a fee based on what they sell to countries like Saudi Arabia or the Philippines, so of course they are not going to want to back away from such a money-making venture,” said Staples, who campaigns against the arms trade.