Canadarm sale sparks revolt
By Petti Fong
Western Canada Bureau Chief
Engineer says ethical concerns forced him to quit in wake of proposed acquisition by U.S. arms maker
VANCOUVER–American engineer Paul Cottle left the United States to move to Canada several years ago because he could not reconcile his tax dollars going to pay for the development of weapons such as bombs and land mines.
Last week, Cottle quit a job he loved in British Columbia when U.S. arms maker Alliant Techsystems proposed buying part of the Canadian company that produces Radarsat satellite technology and the remote-controlled Canadarm, which is used on space shuttles.
Cottle worked at the Richmond, B.C.-based MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. developing satellite technology. The company announced earlier this month that it was selling its space and satellite division to ATK for $1.325 billion.
"It took me seconds to decide that there's no way I could work for them," Cottle said of ATK. The 31-year-old has a master's degree in engineering from Johns Hopkins University. "There was no sleepless night. As a matter of fact, I never felt better then when I told them I was quitting the next day."
Cottle said other colleagues at MDA are upset about the acquisition, but he was fortunate to be in a financial position to quit his job because of his principles. He began working in the satellite division three years ago.
Cottle said he did not want to belong to any part of any division associated with the Minnesota-based ATK, which has supplied depleted uranium shells, land mines and cluster bombs to the U.S. military.
"Every once in a while I manage to scrape up a little beam of scruple," said Cottle, who is now looking for work in Vancouver as he prepares to become a Canadian citizen. "I don't pass judgment for anyone still working for the company but it wasn't right for me to continue."
Since the acquisition was announced Jan. 8, it has been criticized by politicians and peace organizations concerned about the use of Canadian-developed technology furthering an American company's arms race in space.
The NDP's industry critic Peggy Nash warned the technology could potentially be part of the weaponization of space. Former Liberal foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy and Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae have also condemned the sale.
Canadian Autoworkers president Buzz Hargrove said yesterday the taxpayer-supported Canadarm shouldn't be sent south to a firm that "has built its successes by producing arms used to maim and kill."
Hargrove said the sale of the satellite division to ATK contravenes Canada's stance in the Mine Ban Treaty. ATK has a contract to produce a new generation of mining systems and the company says it is complying with the law in providing only NATO countries and its allies with its systems.
The sale faces a mandatory review by Industry Canada under the Investment Canada Act.
But MDA president and CEO Dan Friedmann said in a conference call last week the deal does not need approval from the government or the Canadian Space Agency.
MDA released a statement yesterday saying its 1,900 employees have asked a lot of questions about how the sale will affect them, but only one employee has resigned.
In an interview, ATK senior vice president Brian Cullin said engineers and other personnel with MDA will continue to work in the satellite division and not in weapons development.
"We're not an arms merchant," he said.
© Copyright 2008 Toronto Star. All rights reserved. Reposted for educational purposes.
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