Honourable senators, my question is to the Government Representative in the Senate.

In 2020, for the first time, Canada had the dubious distinction to be named by the UN group of eminent international and regional experts on Yemen as one of the countries “perpetuating the conflict” in Yemen by selling arms to Saudi Arabia.

Last month, Canada, to its credit, announced almost $70 million in humanitarian aid to support Yemenis during this brutal war, but Canada has also been making deals to sell weapons and military equipment worth over four times that to countries attacking the people of Yemen, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Senator Gold, you will recall that Canada acceded to the UN Arms Trade Treaty in 2019, and under Article 11, Canada is obligated to take measures to prevent diversion of its arms exports to third countries. Canada’s Export and Import Permits Act stipulates that Canadian military equipment can be exported only when there is no reasonable risk of use against civilians.

Senator Gold, my questions to the government are: Given that Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau is on the record saying he will deny any permit application where there is a risk of human rights violations and that human rights considerations are now at the centre of Canada’s export regime, and given that a number of reputable sources have identified evidence linking Canadian exports of military equipment to human rights violations by the Government of Saudi Arabia, why has Canada refused to suspend arms exports to Saudi Arabia in accordance with the UN Arms Trade Treaty and the Canadian Export and Import Permits Act?

Isn’t Canada’s failure to halt arms exports to Saudi Arabia — as Italy, Spain, Germany and most recently the U.S. have — a violation of international —

— and domestic law and a contradiction of Canada’s commitment to humanitarian aid and human rights?

Senator, thank you for your question and for raising the very troubling situation in Yemen. The government remains deeply concerned about the situation in Yemen and continues to support a political solution as the only reasonable way to end the ongoing conflict.

Senator and colleagues, Canada has one the most stringent export control systems in the world and has entrenched the concern for human rights in our export controls legislation. I have been advised that the government will deny any permit application where there is a substantial risk of human rights violations.

With regard to your question on international law, the government remains committed to a stronger and more rigorous arms export system, and that’s why the government acceded to the Arms Trade Treaty in the last Parliament. The government’s position is that it is in compliance with its international obligations.