TORONTO: Canada Members of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party blocked a motion to create a parliamentary sub-committee to oversee Canadian arms exports, as Ottawa continues to field criticism over a $15bn weapons deal with Saudi Arabia.
Opposition foreign affairs critic Helene Laverdiere made a motion in the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in early February to establish an oversight committee for all Canadian weapons exports.
Six Liberal MPs voted against establishing the sub-committee on Tuesday, while Laverdiere and three Conservative MPs voted in favour.
“I can’t see any valid reason to say no, especially as they promised more transparency. But they’re not doing it. It’s an empty promise,” Laverdiere told Middle East Eye in a telephone interview.
“I think it would have been a very useful committee. I think that Canadians are really preoccupied by this issue. They’ve lost trust in the processes we have, so it’s important to have an open dialogue,” she said.
