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OTTAWA — The Liberal government will soon announce a $5.2-billion plan to privatize maintenance of new navy ships despite concerns the deal puts key portions of Canada’s military capability in the hands of a private firm.

A May 29 Department of National Defence briefing document obtained by the Ottawa Citizen outlines the unprecedented extent of the in-service support contract to be awarded to the Canadian subsidiary of the French defence giant Thales. The firm will be responsible for much of the maintenance of the Royal Canadian Navy’s new Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships and the Joint Support Ships.

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The company will be given significant access to Department of National Defence facilities and support equipment, as well as oversight of federal workers.

Treasury Board approved the contact on May 11, according to the briefing document.

Pierre-Alain Bujold, a spokesman for Public Services and Procurement Canada, said earlier this year the contract would be awarded in the fall of 2017.