With respect to Mr. Leuprecht, I wholeheartedly disagree with that notion.
Export controls are very well defined, especially contemporary export controls. They are meant to reduce risk and reduce human suffering, and the equation really does not allow for political considerations, penalties, jobs or any extraneous arguments. This is a very simple equation. If there is a risk of misuse, one should not export, especially if Canada holds the position that we have some of the strongest export controls in the world.
There is an alternative, and that is to overlook risk for profit or for other reasons. However, then we would have to change the narrative that we have some of the strongest export controls in the world. We could perhaps overlook risk and say that we have “okay” export controls or “mediocre” export controls.
If we are to hold the claim that we have some of the strongest export controls in the world, we should adhere to the provisions and expectations of widely recognized instruments, such as the Arms Trade Treaty, which places a premium on risk and the prevention thereof.