Contact your Member of Parliament today to ask for their support for Bill C-233, the End the Loopholes Act, as the legislation heads to Second Reading debate in the House of Commons on Monday, March 9, with a vote expected Wednesday evening, March 11th, according to Parliament’s current schedule.
Bill C-233 would amend the Export and Import Permits Act to close a significant and longstanding loophole that exempts most Canadian military exports to the United States from case-by-case permitting and public reporting requirements. This loophole means that roughly half of Canada’s defence exports are not subject to the same permitting, risk assessment, or transparency requirements that apply to exports to all other countries. This exemption is inconsistent with the spirit and obligations of the Arms Trade Treaty, which Canada acceded to in 2019, and it undermines public confidence in our export controls.
Bill C-233 would bring consistency and transparency to Canada’s system by ensuring that weapons, components, and explosives exported to the United States are subject to the same review standards as those shipped to other countries. Canadian standards should be consistent and universal.
Please find the video linked here: Bill C-233: A Call to Action – YouTube
Bill C-233 simply ensures that Canadian-made weapons, components, and explosives exported to the United States are reviewed under the same standards that already apply elsewhere-standards intended to prevent diversion and misuse, including contributions to human-rights violations.
With global conflicts intensifying and international humanitarian law under strain, Canadians deserve assurance that our exports are not contributing – directly or indirectly – to human-rights abuses. Parliament now faces a clear choice. We can maintain an outdated exemption that undermines Canada’s credibility, or we can adopt a consistent, responsible system that reflects our commitments under international law.
Second Reading debate will take place in the House of Commons on March 9, and a recorded vote is expected in the evening of March 11. https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/search
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