Evidence of meeting #75 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was att.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director General, International Security Policy Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
This is a kind of multilateral question. When the Arms Trade Treaty was brought before the UN General Assembly, we, alongside the other 150-odd—
Director General, International Security Policy Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Okay.
We approved of it at the time.
There is then a process whereby states have to choose to sign the treaty, and then once they've signed the treaty, deposit their instruments of ratification, which is a fancy way of saying that we are demonstrating that we meet all of the obligations that we signed on to. Once a certain threshold of states signs and deposits their ratification, the treaty is considered to be in force. Others, like Canada, which chose not to sign the treaty at the time, then have to accede to the treaty.
Bill C-47 reflects the government's decision to accede to the treaty afterwards.
Director General, International Security Policy Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
The three countries that didn't approve it when it was considered by the general assembly were North Korea, Syria, and Iran.
Liberal
Director General, International Security Policy Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Yes.
Liberal
Raj Saini Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON
The process at that time, which started prior to that.... The initial sentiment of the Arms Trade Treaty was that it should be governed by consensus, rather than majority rule. Within those 23 countries, there were some that were upset that this had changed from majority rule to consensus. Some of them had ascribed to the Wassenaar agreement that was signed at that time, which was another 41 countries. With that agreement now there's a lot of talk that they will have to accede to the Arms Trade Treaty, because a lot of those countries also want to start exporting arms.
In terms of the arms treaty regime around the world, would you suggest that right now this is the best mechanism we have for world peace, but more importantly, to make sure that those vulnerable countries have protection in law that will not allow conventional arms to be sold in an illegal way?
Director General, International Security Policy Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Yes. Treaties take a long time to come to be. Initial discussions around this issue were around the years 2000, 2001, and 2002, and then there was a further 10 years of work with others, then the intensive negotiations in 2012-13, and then three years since then as the treaty came into force and countries decided to undertake the kind of work they needed to meet its obligations. It's certainly not only our interpretation, but the majority of states have decided that this is an effective tool for better regulating the illicit trade and unregulated export of conventional arms.
Are we done?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bob Nault
I was talking to him, but you can finish up, Mr. Arbeiter. I wasn't cutting you off. I was signalling to Mr. Saini that his time was up. I don't usually cut the witnesses off unless they're very long-winded.
Director General, International Security Policy Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I should have stopped at “yes”.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bob Nault
With that, I will conclude today's discussion. I want to thank our witnesses very much for a very robust discussion about Bill C-47. We've just begun our look at Bill C-47 from the obligation of the House and the order. I want to remind our friends from the department that we may call you back if it's necessary as we review Bill C-47.
Colleagues, thank you for the two hours. It was very well done. We'll see you on Thursday for probably the same area of discussion. Have a good day.
The meeting is adjourned.