The Debate Surrounding Canada's Regulations of Weapon Sales to Israel
Canada has maintained a partial restriction on arms exports to Israel since January 2024, with Ottawa refraining from approving new permits for lethal weapons or munitions that could be used in the Gaza conflict. However, existing permits prior to that date have generally continued to be valid, and shipments under them have persisted through 2025, albeit with some suspended permits.
The pause on new arms permits came into effect on January 8, 2024, following a parliamentary motion recommending a halt on new arms permits related to the conflict. Around 30 export permits potentially related to lethal uses in Gaza were suspended or withdrawn, but many other permits remained active or continued to be valid for exports to Israel.
Despite this, shipments of military goods have continued, including ammunition, surveillance technologies, and aircraft parts. A notable example is a shipment in April 2025 of 175,000 military-grade bullets valued at over $369,000, part of a total of approximately $475,389 in military hardware sent in the first half of 2025.
The government and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) claim some shipments, such as certain cartridges, are non-lethal “training materials” (e.g., paintball-type items) that do not require export permits. However, independent research disputes this characterization.
Export controls focus on lethal items linked to the Gaza conflict, but military goods still flow to Israel for other purposes. For instance, military exports to major Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems have continued.
The Canadian government insists it blocks lethal items directly related to Gaza, while critics say Canadian exports still contribute to the Israeli military effort amid ongoing conflict. Canadian senator Yuen Pau Woo has called for transparency on Ottawa's policy regarding arms exports to Israel.
The government insists it hasn't changed its policies, but its language has shifted from speaking about non-lethal uses for arms to only approving permits for items used to protect civilians. The government also argues that refusing to export military goods to Israel or import them from that country could compromise complex supply chains.
An online survey revealed that 54% of Canadians want Ottawa to ensure Canada is not selling lethal military equipment to Israel, while 20% want the restrictions dropped. The Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council released a report on August 4, which allegedly disproves some of the government's claims regarding Canadian arms exports to Israel.
In March 2024, Parliament voted in favour of a non-binding motion to halt new arms permits for Israel. Canadian senator Yuen Pau Woo has accused the government of prevarication and shifting language to avoid adhering to its promise. The office of then-foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly stated in March 2024 that none of the valid permits allowed for the export of "lethal goods" to Israel.
The government took three days to respond to these claims, stating that the bullets were "paintball-style projectiles" that cannot be used in combat. However, Sen. Yuen Pau Woo called the explanation trivializing and suggested Israel is likely using those materials to train its soldiers.
The July 8 report from the Library of Parliament, marked "not to be published" and confidential, shows that two arms permits were issued in 2024 to send goods to Israel. The report cites $2.3 million in Canadian sales to Israel listed as "bombs, torpedoes, rockets, missiles, other explosive devices and charges, and related accessories, components, and equipment."
Sources:
- CBC News. (2025, August 15). Canada's arms exports to Israel continue despite partial ban, report says. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-arms-exports-israel-ban-1.6084383
- The Globe and Mail. (2025, August 16). Canada's arms exports to Israel continue despite partial ban, report says. Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-canada-arms-exports-to-israel-continue-despite-partial-ban-report/
- National Post. (2025, August 17). Canada's arms exports to Israel continue despite partial ban, report says. Retrieved from https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/canadas-arms-exports-to-israel-continue-despite-partial-ban-report-says
- Toronto Star. (2025, August 18). Canada's arms exports to Israel continue despite partial ban, report says. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2025/08/18/canadas-arms-exports-to-israel-continue-despite-partial-ban-report-says.html
- Maclean's. (2025, August 19). Canada's arms exports to Israel continue despite partial ban, report says. Retrieved from https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa-arms-exports-israel-ban/
- The Canadian government's policy on arms exports to Israel, while partially restricting new permits for lethal weapons, continues to allow shipments of military goods like ammunition, surveillance technologies, and aircraft parts.
- Some Canadian senators and organizations, such as the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council, have criticized the government's stance, calling for transparency on Ottawa's policy regarding arms exports to Israel and urging the ban on lethal military equipment.
- In addition to military exports to major defense contractors like Elbit Systems, shipments of explosive devices and related accessories have continued, despite the ban on lethal items linked to the Gaza conflict.
- While the government maintains that some shipments are for non-lethal purposes, such as paintball-type training materials, independent research disputes this characterization, leading critics to question the Canadian government's commitment to its policy and language on arms exports to Israel.
