Peter Mansbridge revealed that he did not disclose his involvement with a South Korean company seeking Ottawa’s defense contract to his podcast audience or Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre during a recent episode. This occurred when Mansbridge interviewed Poilievre about Canada’s submarine procurement issue.
An advertisement from Hanwha Ocean, featuring Mansbridge’s voice, has been circulating on YouTube to advocate for the Canadian government to purchase its next-generation submarines from the South Korean company. Mansbridge clarified that he was unaware of the ad’s release timing during his podcast interview with Poilievre on Feb. 26, which was posted a few days later. He admitted to not informing Poilievre about the ads and acknowledged that he should have disclosed this information to his podcast audience.
Mansbridge addressed the matter belatedly in a subsequent podcast episode where he admitted to doing contract work for the Korean submarine manufacturer without explicitly naming Hanwha. Hanwha Ocean is in competition with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to provide Canada with up to 12 new submarines. The Canadian government seems inclined to award the entire multi-billion dollar order to a single firm, prompting Hanwha to persuade Canada to select their submarines.
The Hanwha Ocean ad, voiced by Mansbridge, emphasizes creating jobs, partnerships, and long-term economic benefits through the purchase of their Canadian Patrol Submarine. The company confirmed Mansbridge’s involvement in the ad, which has garnered over two million views on YouTube since its release on March 2.
During Mansbridge’s discussion with Poilievre, the topic of European versus Korean submarines was briefly touched upon without directly mentioning Hanwha. Poilievre expressed the need for a powerful submarine fleet, particularly for Arctic security, without committing to a specific submarine supplier.
Mansbridge clarified that he did not inform CBC News about his work with Hanwha and mentioned that he left news broadcasting in 2017. He stated that he currently works as a podcaster, provides strategic advice to companies, delivers speeches for a fee, and openly shares his opinions on various subjects. Poilievre’s office did not respond to requests for comments on the matter.
The advertisement campaign’s details, including the launch date and platforms utilized, were not disclosed by Hanwha Ocean. However, the ad has been prominently featured on YouTube and other platforms, boosting the company’s visibility in the submarine procurement discussions.