Canadian Arms trade
Encyclopedia
Canadian Arms Sales are governed by the country's Export and Imports Permits Act. Sales with the United States are also specifically regulated by the 1959 Defence Production Sharing Arrangement.
As of 2000, the largest Canadian-owned arms-exporters were Canadian Aviation Electronics
, the 61st-largest defence corporation in the world, and DY4, the 94th-largest. Foreign-owned companies based in Canada, such as General Motors
and Bell Helicopter also contribute significantly.
s and automatic weapons. Because it had recently been banned from Ottawa
city property, the Arms Exhibition ARMX'91 moved to a new home at the Carp Airport outside the city limits.
Liberal Party
introduced a Parliamentary proposal entitled Defence Conversion – A Liberal Priority, which outlined three possibilities for a post-Cold War
Canadian arms trade, including "increas[ing] exports to developing countries where arms spending has been less affected by the Cold War's end – thereby adding to the misery of these countries., and instead advocating the third option, to "encourage Canadian defence companies to adjust and move away from a dependence on military production and export.".
-built Light Armoured Vehicles to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Air Defense Anti-Tank System
s and a Tactical Air Navigation System to Thailand.
1994 also saw Canada begin selling military arms to Algeria, Colombia, Indonesia and South Africa.
s to Brazil, and four more LAV
s to Saudi Arabia, while smaller sales included $4.9 million worth of rockets to Malaysia, $270,976 in simulator parts to Morocco, $50,000 worth of aircraft parts to Indonesia, $27,000 in small arms to Argentina, $21,400 worth of missile parts to Egypt.
The year also marked the conclusion of the Canadian sale of 40 Huey
military helicopters to the United States, who then refitted 33 of the craft with further military upgrades and sold them to Colombia, thus allowing Canada to bypass its restriction against selling arms to Colombia.
and service pistol
s. This was roughly 0.2% of the $995 million Filipino defense budget of 1998.
aircraft engines to Indonesia.
Arabia, China, Libya and Tunisia.
As of 2000, the largest Canadian-owned arms-exporters were Canadian Aviation Electronics
CAE (company)
CAE Inc. is a leading provider of simulation technologies, modelling technologies and integrated training services to airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and defense customers worldwide. The company has annual revenues in excess of CAD $1.6 billion, with manufacturing operations and training...
, the 61st-largest defence corporation in the world, and DY4, the 94th-largest. Foreign-owned companies based in Canada, such as General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
and Bell Helicopter also contribute significantly.
1986
In 1986, Project Ploughshares organised a protest against the conference HiTech '86 which is hosted by the Canadian government, advertising potential foreign markets to military-based contractors.1991
In 1991, the Canadian government amended the Exports and Imports Permit Act, to allow more freedom in selling LAVLAV
LAV or Lav may refer to:* Light armoured vehicles** LAV-25, used by the United States Marine Corps** LAV III, in service with the Canadian and New Zealand armed forces...
s and automatic weapons. Because it had recently been banned from Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
city property, the Arms Exhibition ARMX'91 moved to a new home at the Carp Airport outside the city limits.
1992
In 1992, the Official OppositionOfficial Opposition (Canada)
In Canada, Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition , commonly known as the Official Opposition, is usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the House of Commons or a provincial legislative assembly that is not in government, either on its own or as part of a governing coalition...
Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
introduced a Parliamentary proposal entitled Defence Conversion – A Liberal Priority, which outlined three possibilities for a post-Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
Canadian arms trade, including "increas[ing] exports to developing countries where arms spending has been less affected by the Cold War's end – thereby adding to the misery of these countries., and instead advocating the third option, to "encourage Canadian defence companies to adjust and move away from a dependence on military production and export.".
1994
In 1994, Canadian arms sales skyrocketed 48% to a total of $497.4 million, causing a brief controversy. This sharp escalation contributed to Canada's position as the 7th largest supplier of military arms to Third World countries. Large sales included GMGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
-built Light Armoured Vehicles to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Air Defense Anti-Tank System
Air Defense Anti-Tank System
The Air Defense Anti-Tank System is a dual-purpose short range surface-to-air and anti-tank missile system based on the M113A2 vehicle. It is manufactured by the Swiss company Oerlikon-Contraves, a member of the Rheinmetall Defence Group of Germany....
s and a Tactical Air Navigation System to Thailand.
1994 also saw Canada begin selling military arms to Algeria, Colombia, Indonesia and South Africa.
1995
In 1995, Canada became the 7th-largest supplier of arms to third-world countries, and the 10th largest arms dealer overall.2000
In 2000, Canada's sales totalled $434 million, across 50 nations. Large sales included eight HowitzerHowitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
s to Brazil, and four more LAV
LAV
LAV or Lav may refer to:* Light armoured vehicles** LAV-25, used by the United States Marine Corps** LAV III, in service with the Canadian and New Zealand armed forces...
s to Saudi Arabia, while smaller sales included $4.9 million worth of rockets to Malaysia, $270,976 in simulator parts to Morocco, $50,000 worth of aircraft parts to Indonesia, $27,000 in small arms to Argentina, $21,400 worth of missile parts to Egypt.
The year also marked the conclusion of the Canadian sale of 40 Huey
Huey
-People:* Huey * Huey Lewis, rock musician, noted for his band Huey Lewis & the News* Huey Long , US democratic party politician, known as "The Kingfish"* Huey Long , American musician* Huey P...
military helicopters to the United States, who then refitted 33 of the craft with further military upgrades and sold them to Colombia, thus allowing Canada to bypass its restriction against selling arms to Colombia.
2001
From 1991 through 2001, the Department of National Defense (Philippines)]Filipino Department of National Defense imported an annual average of $1.6 million worth of its equipment from Canada, including aircraft partsAircraft part
An aircraft part is an article or component approved for installation on a certificated aircraft. Approval for these parts is derived from the jurisdictions of the countries that an aircraft is based...
and service pistol
Service pistol
A service pistol is any handgun issued to military personnel.Typically service pistols are revolvers or semi-automatic pistols issued to officers, non-commissioned officers and rear-echelon support personnel for self defense, though service pistols may also be issued to special forces as a backup...
s. This was roughly 0.2% of the $995 million Filipino defense budget of 1998.
2004
Major sales in 2004 included the sale of $346 million worth of Bell Helicopters to Pakistan and $22 million worth of Pratt & Whitney CanadaPratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
aircraft engines to Indonesia.
2011
Canada jumped from fifteenth to twelfth largest exporter of *military* hardware in the world. The country exports to several governments engaged in human rights violations, like the Philippines, Israel, SaudiArabia, China, Libya and Tunisia.