Ottawa, Ontario –-(Ammoland.com)- As part of Canada’s commitment to transparency and rigour in export controls, the Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of International Trade, today announced plans to accede to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
The government announced new measures that will allow Canada to demonstrate compliance with the ATT while enhancing Canada’s already robust export controls. These include new legislative amendments to regulate arms brokering, measures to formalize the assessment criteria used by the minister of foreign affairs in making export permit decisions, and other measures to increase transparency.
Minister Dion has now tabled the Arms Trade Treaty in Parliament. In addition, the Minister tabled the 2014 and 2015 reports on exports of military goods from Canada and the 2014 and 2015 annual reports to Parliament on the administration of the Export and Import Permits Act. At the government’s request, reports are already clearer than was the case in the past. The government intends to go further by working with industry and NGOs to inject even more transparency and rigour into how they are compiled and presented.
——
Quotes
“The Government of Canada is living up to its commitments to Canadians to promote responsibility, transparency and accountability in regulating the global trade of conventional weapons by ensuring that Canada accedes to the Arms Trade Treaty.”
- Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“Canadians expect an export controls system that is rigorous, transparent and predictable. In order to show global leadership, we will take steps to demonstrate real progress toward improved transparency. We will continue to work with stakeholders, including those in relevant sectors, to responsibly represent Canadian values and interests around the world.”
- Hon. Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Minister of International Trade