Black programs are considered ultra-secret and in the past have involved the development of such revolutionary weapons as the stealth bomber and fighter.

Such a move by the U.S. could also give the federal government some political breathing room as Canadians would be unlikely to find out about any progress on the controversial space weapon until it becomes part of the missile shield the Pentagon is now building.

Both the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP are trying to make Canadian involvement in the shield an election issue, and NDP leader Jack Layton has accused Paul Martin's Liberal government of signing on to a Star Wars program involving weapons in space.

But Mr. Martin, whose government is still negotiating a role for Canada in the missile shield, has said he opposes weapons in orbit.

He has said he would walk away from any deal that involves such devices. He notes the system planned by the U.S., at this point, involves using ground and sea-based interceptors designed to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles.

But earlier this year the Pentagon requested $47 million to start development of a space-based interceptor as part of the shield. In February, the U.S. air force unveiled its plan to put weapons into orbit and destroy other countries' satellites as part of a strategy that views space as being dominated by the U.S. and its allies.

In addition, Canadian defence planners note that the U.S. has renewed its interest in building a constellation of 12 to 24 orbiting lasers to blast apart enemy missiles, according to a report obtained by the Citizen under the Access to Information law. Each of the satellites would be outfitted with a laser with a range of 1,000 to 5,000 kilometres, according to a Department of National Defence report produced in March 2003.

But the information the public receives on such a controversial program may become scarce in the future as Canadian planners believe the Pentagon is interested in taking the space laser and "possibly moving (it) into 'black' territory where progress will be concealed."

The report adds that no breakthroughs on the laser system are expected in the near term but that a test version of the weapon could be in orbit by 2012. "A substantial and important amount of work may be conducted in this general area, but out of the spotlight," it notes.

Theresa Hitchens, vice-president of the Washington-based Center for Defense Information, said she wouldn't be surprised if the space-based laser became a black program because of the ongoing controversy surrounding it and other such space weapons. "If it goes black you wouldn't likely find out about (the laser) until it had already been tested or was in use," said Ms. Hitchens.

The Liberal government has gone to great lengths to portray the development of space weapons as remote. According to Defence Minister David Pratt, the use of such systems is so far off in the future that Canadians should not be concerned about them. Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham has claimed that the development of space weapons is still in the realm of science fiction.

Darren Gibb, a spokesman for Mr. Pratt, reiterated that Canada firmly opposes weapons in space and that negotiations under way do not involve such devices as part of the missile shield.

But Ms. Hitchens said Canadian government officials are either naive, poorly informed or deliberately misleading the public. She noted that the Bush administration is intent on putting such devices into orbit. "Space weapons are part of the missile defence system plan, no matter what your government officials continue to say or hope," added Ms. Hitchens.

Some critics contend that the decision has already been made for Canada to take part in the shield but that the Martin government, if re-elected, won't reveal that until well after the election. That claim has been vehemently denied by government officials.