Canada & the worldDefence

Stricter rules for arms exports

C-233 An Act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act

Ends country exemptions for weapons export permits, meant to align Canadian law with the Arms Trade Treaty.

What Bill C-233 would do

The bill would amend the Export and Import Permits Act to include parts and technology under rules for arms, ammunition, and munitions of war. It would end country-based exemptions from the Export Control List and stop general export and brokering permits for these goods. The bill would also add factors a minister must review before granting permits, require end-use certificates to mitigate risks of war crimes or international law violations, and mandate an annual report to Parliament.

Official summary

This enactment amends the Export and Import Permits Act to more fully align it with the Arms Trade Treaty and to remove exemptions for specific countries by, among other things, (a) clarifying that parts, components and technology necessary for the assembly or use of arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war are included in the meaning of those terms; (b) preventing exemptions from the Export Control List for arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war based on their country of destination; (c) preventing the issuance of general export permits for arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war; (d) preventing the issuance of general brokering permits for arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war; (e) enhancing the considerations that the Minister must take into account in issuing a permit to export or broker arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war; (f) providing that the Minister must require end-use certificates from the government of a country to which arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war are being exported if doing so would sufficiently mitigate a substantial risk of war crimes or violations of international humanitarian law or international human rights law; and (g) requiring the Minister to prepare and table in Parliament an annual report on the export of arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war and Canada’s compliance with the Arms Trade Treaty.

Kind
Private member's bill
Sponsor
Jenny Kwan, Member of Parliament (Vancouver East)
Introduced
in the House of Commons
Last activity

Where it stands

Voted down

Voted down in the House of Commons March 11

  1. First reading in the House done

    Before the House on 1 sitting day,

  2. Second reading in the House stopped here

    Before the House on 3 sitting days, to

    2nd reading and referral to committee - FAAE: negatived, 22–⁠295 (division 85),

  3. Committee in the House not yet

  4. Report stage in the House not yet

  5. Third reading in the House not yet

  6. First reading in the Senate not yet

  7. Second reading in the Senate not yet

  8. Third reading in the Senate not yet

  9. Royal assent not yet

Exact procedural stages
  1. House
    1. First reading in the House: done, 2025-09-19
    2. Second reading in the House: stopped here
    3. Committee in the House: not yet reached
    4. Report stage in the House: not yet reached
    5. Third reading in the House: not yet reached
  2. Senate
    1. First reading in the Senate: not yet reached
    2. Second reading in the Senate: not yet reached
    3. Third reading in the Senate: not yet reached
  3. Royal assent
    1. Royal assent: not yet reached

Debates in the House 0

No debate on this bill is in the record we hold yet.

Also raised in 3

Question Period, members' statements and other debates where the bill came up.

Show 3
  1. Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act

  2. Government Orders

  3. Protecting Victims Act

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