Canada moves to join treaty curbing foreign arms sales

OTTAWA: Canada introduced a bill Thursday opening the way for it to join a UN Arms Trade Treaty which effectively curbs some foreign weapons sales.

Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland introduced the legislation, saying it would formalise Canada’s current system of export controls which already “meets most of the treaty’s thresholds.”

In recent years, Canada has faced criticism over the sale of light armored vehicles ( LAVs) to Saudi Arabia. Successive governments have said the LAVs were not used against civilian populations.

The UN treaty prohibits signatory countries from exporting conventional weapons that will be used for terrorism, international organised crime, gender-based violence, human rights abuses, or violations of international humanitarian law.

The treaty entered into force in December 2014 after its adoption by the UN General Assembly.

Canada would be one of the last countries to join the pact, which was signed by 130 countries, and has been ratified by 83.

Among the changes to prepare for accession to the treaty, Canada has invested US$ 10 million to strengthen its export control regime.

Canada is one of the top arms exporters to the Middle East, largely on the strength of the LAVs sale to Saudi Arabia. — AFP