The Canadian government is refusing to say “whether it obtained assurances that light armoured vehicles being sold to Saudi Arabia in a massive $15-billion deal would not be used against the Saudi people” according to Globe and Mail newspaper reporter Steven Chase in an article published Wednesday (January 21). The deal involves made-in-Canada light armoured vehicles.
This is a key guarantee required by federal export controls when arms are destined for countries with a “persistent record of serious violations of the human rights of their citizens,” writes Chase.
Chase says the Crown corporation brokering the deal refuses to say how many LAV vehicles Canada will supply to Saudi Arabia, citing a confidentiality clause in the deal, but quotes Ken Epps, with Project Ploughshares, an anti-war group, estimating it’s hundreds, if not thousands.
More information:
Globe and Mail/Steven Chase – Canada’s arms deal with Saudi Arabia shrouded in secrecy – here
RCI (April, 2014) – On anniversary of UN Arms Trade Treaty, Canada fails to sign or ratify – here
RCI (January, 2014) – Canada’s defence industry – economic priorities vs human rights – here
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.