The minister used to have almost full authority to authorize any and all exports to any destination regardless of the human rights record of the recipient.
Recently, as part of Bill C-47, which is the legislation that was getting Canada ready to accede to the Arms Trade Treaty, that changed in a positive way. There is something now called the substantial risk clause, whereby in the risk assessment if Global Affairs Canada determines there is a risk or misuse of a certain export, the minister not only has the option but indeed the obligation to deny such exports. We are now in a much stronger position.
As my colleague, Peggy Mason, from the Rideau Institute said, that is the law. There remains a gap between the law as written and the law as implemented. It is the implementation of the law where we see severe shortcomings.