The Canadian government is “quietly working to remove restrictions on the transfer of hundreds of Canadian-made, military-related goods as part of a plan to make Canada a global arms exporter,” according to a Postmedia article published Wednesday night (October 23).
Ottawa journalist Lee Berthiaume writes Canadian defence companies say the initiative is long overdue, but “arms-control groups worry about the secrecy that has surrounded the process.”
A list of “controlled goods” was created by the Canadian government in 2001 and includes hundreds of goods such as drones, guns and ammunition, and software.
Berthiaume writes that Canada’s Public Works Minister Diane Finley “confirmed last week that the government plans to remove more than half of the items currently on the controlled-goods list.”
She quotes her as saying: “The amendments will also ensure that the list is always aligned with the U.S., now and in the future. That means predictability for Canadian business and continued access to the U.S. defence market.”
More information:
Lee Berthiaume/Postmedia News – Government to remove export controls on hundreds of military goods – here
Canadian government – Report on Exports of Military Goods from Canada – here
Canadian government – Controlled products: Military and Strategic Goods and Technology – here
Canadian government – Export Control List – here
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