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The Ottawa Citizen has reported on a proposal put forward by Conservative senator Hugh Segal. He wants his own government to call out one of this country’s allies — France — over its plan to sell military ships to Russia.

In a speech Saturday morning, Sen. Hugh Segal suggested that Canada or NATO should buy the Mistral-class military assault ships rather than allow them to be added to the Russia naval fleet, according to the Citizen report.

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The deal is worth $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion (different figures are out there) to the French. The Russians are interested in three of the ships. The French want to proceed with the sale despite the ongoing situation in Ukraine.

“Canada or NATO should buy these ships from France, leaving the Russians to await a further slot on the list, which good behaviour would assure,” Segal’s speaking notes read. “Being silent as French technology is afforded to an adventurist Russian military stance makes no sense at all. France’s rhetoric has been admirably focused and well-targeted over Crimea. We should call our ally’s attention to the perils of muscular hypocrisy when lives are at stake.”