Law group at Universit de Montral tries blocking $15B Saudi arms deal

A group from the Universit de Montral's law faculty is demanding a judicial review by the Federal Court of Canada to block a controversial $15-billion deal to sell military equipment to Saudi Arabia.

The federal Liberal government haspromised to honour thecontract, signed by the previousConservative government,to supply Saudi Arabia with light-armoured military vehicles.

The group, led by law professor Daniel Turp, filed for a judicial review of the deal Mondaymorning.

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Turp, who also heads aQuebec sovereignty researchinstituteand isa former BlocQubcoisMP andPartiQubcoisMNA, said Canada should not be entering into an arms deal with a country that has such a poor human rights record.

Turp said the Trudeaugovernment isn't being transparent, arguing the government should release details, such as when the contract is to come into force.

"Even though, Minister [Stphane]Dion and Prime Minister [Justin] Trudeau argue now that this contract was a contract concluded by a Conservative government, a previous government, it doesn't mean that the laws that exist that are on the books should not be respected,"Turpsaid.