The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has been using communications equipment from a Chinese firm banned in the US.

The revelations come following reports the federal government awarded a $549,637 contract to provide RCMP equipment to Sinclair Technologies. 

Sinclair’s parent company, Norsat, was purchased by Hytera Communications in 2017. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) owns 10% of the communication company, which operates out of Shenzen, China.

The CBC reports that the CBSA has been using Hytera Communications equipment for more than five years. 

Hytera was banned by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2021 after the government determined it posed a national security risk.

Hytera is currently facing 21 espionage-related charges from the US Department of Justice for business it conducted between 2007 and 2020. Hytera denies the allegations.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said he asked departments across his portfolio to review any procurement contracts linked to Hytera or its subsidiaries.

“I have instructed my department to do a portfolio-wide scan and review of any other potential similar contracts which may have been awarded, so that we can take whatever steps are necessary to mitigate any against any risks that may exist,” he said Monday.

“That will apply right across all departments, including the CBSA.”

CBC News reports that CBSA officers at the Fort Erie Peace Bridge in Ontario use Hytera radios.

In February 2017, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) awarded a nearly $3 million contract to Canquest Communications to provide digital mobile radios and radio communication infrastructure for CBSA in the Niagara Region. Canquest worked with Hytera to build the infrastructure and sold Hytera radio equipment to CBSA.

A spokesperson for PSPC told CBC the contract did not contain any security requirements.

The RCMP has already suspended its contract and is reviewing the equipment already installed.