Hambleton, Hugh

(1922– )

   The KGB’s most important Canadian agent was Hugh Hambleton, who spent parts of four decades working for the service in Canada and Europe. A committed communist, Hambleton was recruited in 1945 with the help of members of the Canadian Communist Party. For over three decades, he provided information about NATO, British, and Canadian defense planning. In 1979 the Canadian security services discovered Hambleton’s role as a Soviet spy but were unable to bring the case to court. In 1981 Hambleton traveled to London, where he was arrested under provisions of the Official Secrets Act and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.