Amid intensified Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is facing accusations of misleading the public regarding weapons exports to Israel, according to a report by Al Jazeera.
The controversy revolves around legislation prohibiting Canada from exporting military equipment to foreign entities if there’s a risk of it being used in human rights abuses. However, regulatory loopholes and a lack of clarity over Canada’s exports to Israel have complicated efforts to halt these transfers.
Despite mounting pressure from Canadian civil society groups urging Trudeau to cease arms exports to Israel, the foreign affairs ministry attempted to downplay Canada’s role in aiding Israel’s arsenal. The ministry stated that no permits for major conventional arms or light weapons to Israel had been issued in over 30 years, with recent permits only for non-lethal equipment.
However, advocates argue that this statement does not accurately represent the total volume of Canada’s military exports to Israel, which amounted to over USD 15 million (CAD 21.3 million) in 2022.
Michael Bueckert, vice president of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, criticized the government for continuing arms exports despite the risks posed to Gaza. He accused the government of misleading Canadians by downplaying the arms trade with Israel.
Kelsey Gallagher, a researcher at Project Ploughshares, highlighted the lack of transparency surrounding Canada’s military exports to Israel. Despite the majority of exports consisting of parts and components, the specific technology and its end use remain unclear.
Henry Off, a Toronto-based lawyer, suggested that Canadian military components may reach Israel via the United States, complicating tracking efforts due to a decades-old agreement between Canada and the US.
Despite pressure from human rights advocates, Canada maintains that it upholds stringent arms export control regulations. Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated the government’s commitment to human rights protection but did not commit to ending arms transfers to Israel.
Gallagher emphasized Canada’s discretionary approach in choosing which countries to arm, including Israel, despite calls for an arms embargo.
