Ottawa has reaffirmed its permit-free process for shipping Canadian arms to the United States while a review was conducted on the final destinations of these shipments by the Crown corporation responsible for international transfers. The assessment, acquired through an access to information request, contains mostly redacted content, including the conclusions. However, out of 300 footnotes, 288 are unredacted.
A significant portion of the footnotes, around 210, specifically mention Israel and Palestine, with a focus on reports concerning Gaza, news articles on U.S. arms deliveries to Israel, and documents from international bodies like the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. The document, titled “Human Rights Assessment–Indirect Transfers,” was produced by the Canadian Commercial Corporation’s internal human rights division on December 6, 2024, and updated on March 24, 2025.
The assessment includes an annex listing approximately 30 U.S. military contracts, predominantly associated with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Canada, along with a few contracts to Patriot Forge based in Brantford, Ontario. Specific details of the contracts in the annex are redacted. Nevertheless, it has been confirmed that 15 of these contracts were signed, including agreements for 105-mm ammunition destined for the U.S. Navy and 150- to 200-mm guns awarded to Patriot Forge by the U.S. government.
The assessment features footnotes on U.S. shipments to Israel, referencing various sources such as an Axios article on the U.S. preparing to deliver artillery shells to Israel initially intended for Ukraine. Additionally, the document cites the International Criminal Court’s announcement seeking warrants for the arrests of Israeli and Hamas leaders, as well as calls for an arms embargo on Israel by the United Nations.
The review also alludes to an International Court of Justice order urging Israel to halt military actions in Gaza and highlights the responsibilities of third countries to prevent arming Israel. The document emphasizes the importance of due diligence in transactions involving defense buyers and end users to uphold human rights standards.
Concerns have been raised regarding Canadian arms potentially reaching Israel through the U.S., prompting discussions on ending permit-free shipments to the U.S. A private member’s bill introduced by NDP MP Jenny Kwan aims to close the perceived loophole allowing Canadian goods to reach third countries after passing through the U.S. Despite some opposition, the bill is set for further debate and a vote in the coming months.