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OTTAWA — While saying a rejection of the proposed acquisition of Aecon Group Inc. would spur a “sharp reaction” from China, the former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) warned that the deal would threaten Canada’s national security.

Ward Elcock said Wednesday that it would be extremely hard for Ottawa to draw specific parameters around the $1.5-billion Aecon deal that would both act as a fail-safe against national security threats while also allowing the company to operate in Canada’s free market system.

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“In that context it seems to me that it’s very difficult for the government to approve the Aecon acquisition without incurring significant risk to national security,” he said.

Elcock said it would “certainly not be my recommendation” to allow the deal to move ahead, and pushed back against the notion that Canada could effectively monitor the proposed Chinese buyer of Aecon through intelligent policy restrictions that effectively limit its powers.