How can we end the secrecy of Canada’s $4B annual weapons exports?
Leading experts on the arms industry gave powerful presentations to a Parliamentary committee this week, urging stronger oversight of weapons exports.
The Globe and Mail reports that they told MPs Thursday they fear the department of Global Affairs cannot be relied upon to effectively police exports of military goods and suggested ways to boost or augment scrutiny.
Our friends from Project Ploughshares, the Rideau Institute, and Amnesty International told members of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee that they believe Global Affairs is grappling with accommodating competing interests – export promotion versus export control – and that this undermines the department’s ability to conduct effective reviews.
You can watch their presentations on the Parliament of Canada’s Parlvu website.
Updated: Canada’s arms exports were close to $4 Billion in 2019, not $2 Billion as an earlier version of this post stated.
