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The Canadian government spent $1.6 million to ship $5 million worth of surplus tents, sleeping bags and other military goods last August to Ukraine, according to figures obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.

The equipment, sent by Canadian Forces aircraft, included sleeping bags the military estimates are worth $437 each and four-man tents worth $420.

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Helmets, and ballistic eyewear, as well as medical supplies, were also transported.

The shipment proved to be a public relations bonanza for the Conservative government which is courting the Ukrainian-Canadian vote in the upcoming federal election.

The Canadian Forces paid for much of the transport price tag out of its budget. The figure was in addition to the regular cost of personnel and equipment. Some of the transport cost was also covered by the Foreign Affairs budget.

“To expedite delivery of these items, the Government of Canada concluded that using its military aircraft was the most efficient option,” Foreign Affairs spokesman François Lasalle stated in an email about the August 2014 shipments. “Canada is committed to standing with the people of Ukraine in the face of Putin’s military aggression,” he added.