by PATRICK LEJTENYI

It may have been a misnomer, but the organizers of last Friday's Weapons of Mass Destruction Bus Tour hoped that the catchy title would at least create a bit more scrutiny on the weapon-makers among us. Put together by Block the Empire-Montreal, a coalition of anti-war, anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist activists, the tour gathered about 40 people on a visit to some of the city's more high-profile corporations. Brief demonstrations were held outside each destination.

Besides a trip through scenic Ville-Saint-Laurent, the tour offered a good spotlight on who makes what for armed forces here and abroad. There were no surprise destinations, but what's produced often passes under the public radar. Below is a chronological list of the stops made and what happened.

9:45 a.m. Bombardier
(800 René-Lévesque W.)

Bombardier, once a humble skidoo manufacturer, has since made not-inconsiderable forays into the realm of the military-industrial complex: it does system engineering for the Canadian CF-18 fleet, servicing for the C-23 Sherpa used by the U.S. Coast Guard, NATO pilot training and designs and builds surveillance technology, including the Peanut, a six-foot high, 770-pound turboshaft-powered unmanned aerial vehicle used for communications relays, border patrol, environmental inspection, drug enforcement operations and target acquisition.

Bombardier, the activists say, is the third largest military contractor in Canada and made $300-million from its military-based contracts in 2001–02.

Aside from a few bemused looks from passers-by and a few words with the police, nothing untoward happened.

10:15 a.m. SNC-Lavalin
(455 René-Lévesque W.)

While the gargantuan engineering firm is better known for its hydro dams in Cree country, it also makes a lot of bullets, of different calibres, specifications and killing techniques. SNC Technologies, a subsidiary, was born out of the parent company's acquisition of Industries Valcartier Inc. and Canadian Arsenals Ltd. from the feds. It is the sole Canadian producer of ammo used by the Canadian Armed Forces, providing 70 per cent of its munitions. It also sells munitions to the U.S. armed forces, several Western European countries and friendly regimes in the Middle East. They are also heavily involved in munitions research and development.

The security guard looked confused when the group walked into the lobby. She was assured that the event would be peaceful, which it was. Two activists from the Concordia scene, Yves Engler and Laith Marouf, were discouraged from scotch-taping posters inside. A couple of other security guards, as well as one man in a civilian suit, came by to observe the goings-on, but remained passive.

10:35 a.m. The American consulate
(1155 St-Alexandre)

Since it was right around the corner, why not? For some reason, as soon as the group arrived in front of the consulate, a security guard inside blocked the door handles, barring any possible (non-violent) entry. While the activists stood outside denouncing the governments of the United States and Canada, the guards took photos and beefed up their presence. The man in the civilian suit from the lobby of SNC-Lavalin also showed up inside.

The bus showed up only a couple of minutes late, and inside a video was shown about Bombardier's and SNC-Lavalin's participation in military technology, produced by the Polaris Institute, an Ottawa-based left-leaning think tank. The institute believes that the Canadian Armed Forces' $12.3-billion budget - the 16th biggest in the world - is far too large.

11:30 a.m. Lockheed Martin Canada
(6111 Royalmount)

By far the largest weapons contractor in the world, LMC says 80 per cent of its business is with the U.S. military and other federal agencies. Sales for 2002 topped $26.5-billion (U.S.). Its product list runs in the hundreds, from satellites (including the Hubble telescope) to missiles to gunnery training software, not to mention sub-launched ballistic missiles, Patriot missiles and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

The group walked up to the front doors - which were locked from the inside - and proceeded to list some of Lockheed's alleged misdeeds: receiving a fat loan from the Canadian government, the development of the JSF and selling to Israel various jets, helicopters and training technology.

Anti-Lockheed posters were scotch-taped up on the front doors, and after about 10 minutes, a security guard told the group that this was private property, get lost or else she'd call the cops. Sure enough, the police arrived a couple of minutes later, but there was no confrontation. A police escort was picked up along the way to the next destination.

12:15 p.m. CMC Electronics
(600 Frederik Philips)

Said to be the eight-largest military contractor in Canada, CMC specializes in high-tech electronics for the aviation, communications, global positioning and space industries. In March, it won a contract to supply electronics for the U.S. military's Black Hawk helicopters. That contract alone is worth as much as, perhaps more than, $110-million (U.S.). It also works for other friendly militaries.

The neighbourhood around the plant is a suburban fairytale of sprawling pink-candy houses and cozy cul-de-sacs. More posters went up on the building's front doors, while at least one Arab employee caught outside - the doors were locked here too - complained that the group's presence might get him fired.

12:45 p.m. CAE
(8585 Côte de Liesse)

CAE specializes in simulators, mostly land and flight. It also provides flight simulators to other friendly regimes, especially the U.S. but also the U.K., Germany and Australia.

The activists have a special circle in hell for CAE president and CEO Derek Burney. A former ambassador to the U.S. and chief of Brian Mulroney's staff, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993 and is director of the board of CAE, Quebecor World and Shell Canada. Scott Weinstein, one of the tour's organizers, role-played as Burney with a stars-and-stripes decorated missile on top of his head, where he outlined his desire for greater trade, elimination of borders, privatization and further integration with the U.S. All laughed.

1:30 p.m. Technology Partnerships Canada
(5 Place Ville-Marie, 7th floor)

This branch of Industry Canada, activists say, functions as a corporate welfare office, giving out substantial loans that are rarely, if ever, paid back. In late December 2002, it gave CAE $39-million. In September 2002, it gave Lockheed Martin $4.6-million for its Advanced Intruder Detection System, an early-warning marine sonar technology. In January 2002, CMC received $16.9-million. These figures, and others, are available on the TPC Web site (http://tpc.ic.gc.ca).

After finding an empty room on the eighth floor, the group sat around and talked about subsidies, taxpayers and the Canadian military-industrial complex. They stayed for a quarter of an hour or so, until a couple of government bureaucrats showed up and questioned just what exactly was going on. After some soothing words from one of the older activists, the group left, its work done, under the bureaucrats' watchful but somewhat confused glare. Outside, on PVM's concrete mezzanine, the group gradually dispersed. Plans are said to be afoot for another bus tour in the future.