Ottawa - Canada has spent several million dollars last year to use the services of private security firms around the world, some of which are highly controversial. Ottawa has particular awarded contracts to the American firm Blackwater - currently under fire because of his actions in Iraq - to train some of its troops now in Afghanistan. Canada also uses the services of the firm Saladin, who has acted illegally in various operations in the past, to protect its embassy and dignitaries in Kabul.

A research conducted by Le Devoir in the Public Accounts of Canada found that the government deals with private firms that deploy what has often been described as the "new mercenaries". Employees of these private companies are usually former soldiers or police officers who are sent to areas hostile to perform tasks once done by soldiers of countries engaged in conflict, including the protection of dignitaries, the security of embassies, strength rapid response in case of attacks, and so on.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has spent in 2006-07 nearly $ 15 million - a security budget of 29.9 million - from a variety of private firms to protect its embassy and its staff.

Some companies have actually spent more trouble than others. This is particularly true of the British firm Saladin. Since 2006, a total of $ 493000 took the helm of Afghanistan Saladin Security, a division of the British firm, to secure its embassy in that country unstable and to ensure the protection of convoys of dignitaries.

As Le Devoir had seen during his visit to Afghanistan last April, the guards of the company are often dressed as paramilitaries, rifle in hand and baseball cap on his head. They all looked like matamores ready to engage in combat. They patrolled around the embassy and direct control points leading to the building.

The Canadian Forces have only about thirty soldiers stationed in Kabul and it is a logistics team that makes the link with the troops stationed in Kandahar. These soldiers do not have the necessary equipment to respond to insurgent attacks and do not have the mandate to escort convoys of dignitaries, except on rare occasions.

Yesterday, the foreign minister, Maxime Bernier, confirmed the use of Saladin in Afghanistan, but he did not elaborate. It was not possible to know from his ministry, how many guards the company at the service of Canada and what are their rules of engagement. It was not possible to know if they have already fired on insurgents (or civilians) and they have already made prisoners.

"The contracts for such services are the responsibility of diplomatic missions abroad, told the Duty Rodney Moore, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry. I can only say that companies are certified and registered with the local government and are subject to the laws of the country, regardless of location in the world. "

Saladin has more than 2000 employees in Afghanistan, almost as many men as Canada (2500 soldiers) and more than most NATO countries involved in the conflict. Although he has often pointed to the private security firms and denounced their practice of "cowboys", the Afghan government has never said a bad word about Saladin, according to our research.

The company Saladin is the new version of the British firm KMS, which was founded in 1975. The company was involved in several undercover operations over time, especially during the war between the Afghan Mujahedeen and the Soviet Union in the 80's. According to the book Unholy War, published in 2002 under the pen of John Cooley, KMS has helped lead the Afghan resistance to fight the Russians, at the request of Britain. She also worked with the CIA and the British secret services in Africa and Latin America.

Blackwater used by Ottawa

In the government's books, there is also a name that has made headlines recently: Blackwater. The controversial American firm hit Ottawa $ 493,000 in 2005-06 to nearly double, $ 831,000, in fiscal year 2006-07, which ended in March.

This firm is under fire since last month, when his guards shot dead 17 Iraqis, including many civilians, when moving a convoy of American dignitaries that went awry. Blackwater provides, in part, the safety of American civilian personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the latter country, the firm is also involved in the fight against drug traffickers. The leader of the firm, Erik Prince, had to appear before a committee of the United States Congress to respond gestures of his guards in Iraq.

Unlike Saladin, Canada does not use the services of Blackwater for the protection of its citizens or its facilities, but rather to bring some of its soldiers picked. The Ministry of Defense has dispatched members including special forces headquarters at Blackwater, North Carolina, to refine their techniques escort convoys, but also to learn how to protect the dignitaries and adjust their reactions during the ambushes and kidnappings.

For example, 18 Canadian military members of the Team of strategic advisers (Strategic Advisory Team), who are currently in Kabul to help the Karzai government rebuild its security forces, were trained at Blackwater, in the United States, last June. The two-day stay, which cost $ 29000, was used to prepare the soldiers that they were going to live in the Afghan capital, and know how to react in case of problems, recently reported the Ottawa Citizen.

The Ministry of Defence maintains that the services of Blackwater or other firms of the same type are used only on a casual basis for specific lessons, that the Canadian Forces can not provide for various reasons (lack of equipment, 'expertise or human resources).

The lieutenant colonel retired Remi Landry, military expert today in the Group's study and research on international security at the University of Montreal, believes it is better to be cautious when it comes to Canada's ties with Blackwater because this firm is not on the ground on our behalf. "The Canadian Forces are looking for expertise and do not find, except in these enterprises, he said. The majority of employees of these firms are former military personnel who have experience in conflict zones like Iraq or Afghanistan. To make a shortcut in the learning curve soldiers, the government uses these firms. "

Yesterday, the Defence Minister, Peter MacKay, has justified the use of private security firms. "As we have seen on several occasions, including the former government, we use these firms to meet specific needs. It is a standard practice, "he said.

But Liberal MP Denis Coderre is incompatible and affirms that the government must be more transparent, especially in the case of Saladin, who works at the moment for Canada in Kabul. He believes that the increased use of what he called "mercenaries" raised "serious questions". "It troubled me," he said at Devoir. I am trying to understand the need to use this kind of mercenaries to protect our embassy. We saw what happened to Blackwater in Iraq and we must be careful. If we really need this type of mercenaries must be transparent and say why. "

The private security firms, which are real small armies for the biggest of them, are in a grey area, "says Remi Landry. "They are not civilians and they do not have the same code as the military. These guards are paramilitaries and their international status is not entirely clear. There is a legal vacuum, and those companies, like countries, benefit. What is worrying is the secrecy that surrounds them. There is a magnifying glass to our military, but nobody takes care of these private guards, "he said.