Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This is the first amendment I will be able to speak to with a bit more substance, so I hope to have the support of my fellow members on this extremely important amendment. It deals with a crucial issue. The amendment would require the minister to reassess an export permit when the circumstances on the ground had changed.
To begin with, this is very much in keeping with the spirit of article 7 of the Arms Trade Treaty. Sorry, but I have only the English version. As a francophone, I feel terrible, but I'm going to read the text in English.
It says:
If, after an authorization has been granted, an exporting State Party becomes aware of new relevant information, it is encouraged to reassess the authorization after consultations, if appropriate, with the importing State.
It's very clear to me that, if new information emerges, meaning that the situation changes on the ground, the minister has an obligation to reassess the authorization that was given.
When the minister appeared before the committee a few weeks ago, she seemed to indicate that she wasn't willing to reassess certain cases. I find that troubling. Perhaps I misunderstood. If so, I welcome any clarification on the matter.
In the case of Saudi Arabia, we saw video showing Canadian arms, or similar arms, being used both in the eastern part of the country and in Yemen. That represents a change in circumstances on the ground. When that happens, on a practical level, we have to do a reassessment, so that we are not just talking about human rights around the world, but also doing something to actually protect them. We do that every day in our daily lives, for that matter. When we make a decision based on information, and then contradictory or new information arises, we revisit our decision.
On the one hand, it's simply the common sense thing to do. On the other hand, article 7 of the Arms Trade Treaty is perfectly clear on the subject.
Why include certain elements of the treaty in the bill, but not others? I can't understand that. I'd very much like for someone to explain it to me.