Getting Into That Indiscriminate Bed

"There are some concerns that this treaty affects lawful and responsible firearms owners. We remain committed to making a decision on whether to join the treaty if it is determined that doing so is good for Canada, and for Canadians."
Adam Hodge, spokesman, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird

"The ATT [Arms Trade Treaty] is the most important conventional weapons control treaty in a generation."
"As more states join the treaty -- Israel became a signatory just last week -- Canada's absence becomes more stark. Why isn't Canada party to this international effort to end irresponsible weapons transfers across borders?"
John Siebert, executive director, Project Ploughshares, Waterloo, Ontario

"As the Arms Trade Treaty comes into force today, New Democrats urge Conservatives to stop undermining it."
"Despite the opposition from the powerful gun lobby, even the United States has signed the treaty, so there is no reason why Canada wouldn't do the same."
Helene Laverdiere, NDP assistant foreign affairs spokesman

Canadian Army G-Wagens

Well not quite; the U.S. has signed, but not yet ratified the treaty. Splitting hairs, perhaps, but the process hasn't been completed. Although other NATO members have, without exception, either signed or ratified the treaty. Leaving Canada in some rather questionable company from the perspective of a Western democratic country. Although Canada voted in favour last year, it now stands alongside Russia, China, Syria and North Korea in refusing to sign.

Mr. Hodge, speaking for Foreign Affairs, has stated that the government's refusal to sign the agreement is not all that intransigent on the world stage, since signing it "would not improve upon how we assess exports of military items (as) Canada already has some of the strongest export controls in the world". On the other hand, deigning to sign, and for the reasons given as well, do not place Canada in a very admirable position.

If only for the company it's keeping. The treaty, points out arms-control groups, will be of great assistance in curbing the flow of weapons and ammunition to the Middle East, Africa and other regions. Precisely those geographic stages throughout the world where conflict, human rights abuses and political-societal instability are most volatile and destructive.

If the mercenary nationalist agenda of boosting Canadian arms exports to aid the economy is the prime motivator here, it's a quite unsavoury reason indeed. The focus on selling Canadian-produced armoured vehicles, helicopters and associated military products to countries in the Middle East, South America and Asia has increased to balance off the reality of weakened markets to allies cutting back on their defence spending.

Light Armoured Vehicle III.

A contract valued at over $10-billion between General Dynamics Land Systems based in London, Ontario and Saudi Arabia where GDLS is contracted to build dozens of armoured military vehicles, the largest such deal in Canadian history was helped along by the Canadian government last year. Saudi Arabia (another country refusing to sign) used similar Canadian-produced armoured vehicles in aiding Bahrain to 'control' demonstrations of its Shiite minorities during the Arab Spring in 2011.