Canadian Arms Exports and the Promotion of Human Rights

The authorization of Canadian arms exports is a significant aspect of Canada’s foreign policy, directly impacting efforts to protect and promote human rights globally. Given the sensitive nature of weapons and their components, the effectiveness and reliability of Canada’s arms export controls are crucial. On paper, Canada maintains a robust export control system, reinforced by its 2019 accession to the Arms Trade Treaty and efforts to align domestic legislation with international obligations. However, despite the government’s carefully crafted narrative of a country committed to human rights and peace, there remains a troubling gap between policy and practice. The Canadian arms industry has increasingly been linked with disreputable regimes involved in some of the world’s most devastating conflicts. A significant portion of Canadian arms exports now supports autocratic regimes, perpetuating armed conflict and enabling human rights violations. One glaring example is the multi-billion-dollar arms sales to Saudi Arabia, a major instigator of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. In September 2020, a report by the UN Human Rights Council’s Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen confirmed widespread human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict and highlighted the role of Canada and other arms exporters in perpetuating the crisis. This chapter explores the consequences for peacebuilding and human rights protection of Canada’s arms control practices, emphasizing how better compliance with established standards can enhance Canada’s role as a middle power in promoting international human rights and contributing to global stability.