Canadian troops and police were trained for two years by the international security contractor formerly known as Blackwater without the permission of the U.S. State Department.
The revelation is contained in U.S. federal court records, unsealed in North Carolina as part of a $7.5 million settlement of criminal charges against the company now called Academi LLC.
It is the second time Canada's association with the notorious security company, often described as the world's largest mercenary army, has arisen in a complex legal case that has been churning its way through U.S. courts.
Blackwater, which changed its name to Xe Services before being sold and becoming Academi LLC, was cited in August 2010 for the unauthorized export of technical data to the Canadian military.
The Harper government has had a standing, untendered contract with the company since 2008 and the NDP's defence critic is now calling for a further investigation into the country's ties to the company.
It has been paid millions of dollars going back to 2006 for specialized training of special forces troops and police officers.
U.S. prosecutors say Blackwater didn't seek the permission required under American arms control laws for the instruction, which took place between 2006 and 2008 and included training in marksmanship, defensive driving, bodyguard and close combat skills.
The company had myriad subsidiaries.
Some of what Blackwater companies taught the Canadian military involved the company's "Mirror Image" course, according to court documents filed in Raleigh, North Carolina. The program sees trainees living as a mock al-Qaeda cell to better understand the mindset and culture of insurgents.
It is a "classroom and field training program designed to simulate terrorist recruitment, training, techniques and operational tactics," said a Blackwater brochure.
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