A Toronto man has been accused of attempting to supply China with classified information which relates to border security, according to the RCMP.

Officers arrested Qing Quentin Huang, 53, a Canadian citizen, under the Security Information Act last Friday.

He is charged with two counts of attempting to communicate information the Canadian government is safeguarding to a foreign power and if convicted could face life in prison.

Huang worked for Lloyd’s Register Canada Ltd., a subcontractor of Irving Shipbuilding Inc, which builds patrol ships, frigates, naval auxiliary vessels, science research boats and ice breakers for Canada.

The RCMP’s Jennifer Strachan, the criminal operations officer for Ontario, alleged the sharing of sensitive “information may give a foreign entity a tactical, military or competitive advantage by knowing the specifications of vessels responsible for defending Canadian waters and Canadian sovereignty.”

Chief Supt. Larry Tremblay, director general of federal policing criminal operations in Ottawa, said there is more to protecting national security than focusing on terrorism.

“It’s about protecting Canadian interests and taking the steps we need to take to protect our sovereignty,” Tremblay said.

Sensitive information at Irving is tightly controlled, the company said in a statement.

“We can confirm that the accused was at no time employed by or on Irving Shipbuilding property. We are further being assured by our subcontractor, Lloyd’s Register Canada Ltd., that the accused did not have security clearance and was therefore not involved in any work nor did he have direct access to any classified or controlled information,” said Kevin McCoy, president of Irving.

The federal government is breathing a sigh of relief following the arrest, officials say.

“This arrest demonstrates the importance of collaboration among security partners for the protection of Canada’s national interest,” said Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney in a statement Sunday.

“The safeguarding of sensitive information remains fundamental to protecting Canada’s interests and national sovereignty.”

A spokesman for Defence Minister Rob Nicholson said it would be “inappropriate” to comment on a case that’s before the courts.

The investigation continues.

— With files from Daniel Proussalidis