MPs reject bill to close arms export loophole despite some Liberal support

NDP MP Jenny Kwan's bill came after the U.S. sought to purchase Canadian weapons for Israel, despite a Canadian ban on exports of various types of weapons to that country.

MPs voted Wednesday to reject a bill that sought to close a loophole in Ottawa’s weapons export regime that allows Washington to send Canadian arms to countries that would otherwise be blocked.

“We are living within a lie with our arms exports,” NDP MP Jenny Kwan said at a Tuesday press conference.

Kwan tabled a private member’s bill last September following attempts by Washington to purchase Canadian weapons for Israel, despite a Canadian ban on exports of various types of weapons to that country.

MPs rejected Bill C-233 in a vote on second reading on Wednesday, with 295 voting against it, and 22 voting in favour. That means the legislation is dead and will not be sent to a committee for study.

Green Leader Elizabeth May voted in favour of the bill, as did all six New Democrats and 15 Liberal MPs — including former minister Steven Guilbeault and recent floor-crosser Lori Idlout.

Ottawa and Washington have a defence production agreement that allows shipments of Canadian arms to the U.S. — including shipments purchased by Washington — to effectively avoid the detailed review typically required to get an arms export permit.

Alarmed by the prospect of Israel violating international law through its bombardment of Gaza after the Hamas attack of October 2023, Ottawa has restricted arms exports to Israel since early 2024.

The Liberals originally said this ban applied to all lethal arms. They later said that sales of arms to Israel would still be allowed if the weapons were being used to defend civilians.