Canadian government under strain for arms deal with Saudi Arabia 41504161.

Despite the fact that the vehicles and their weapons could eventually be used in the war in Yemen, the Liberals have decided to continue their delivery citing that the cancellation of the sale would result in penalties and job losses.

However, the Conservatives accused Justin Trudeau’s government for misleading the Canadian people. Professor of Law Daniel Turp, at the University of Montreal, has filed a lawsuit to block the sale. As a result, the Justice Department has given to publicity a series of documents showing that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stephane Dion, was the one who signed the export licenses on 8 April. The documents revealed that slightly over 70% of the total programme has been approved through six export permits.

The Saudi Arabian government is leading a coalition of countries fighting a war against Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen. More than 3,000 civilians are estimated to have died as a result of the war. As a result, many fear that due to both Riyad's human rights records and civilian losses in Yemen, the weapons could be used in such cases and that for an export permission to be granted or not, the assessment of such a possibility is enough for the minister to block it. Foreign Minister Stephane Dion has declined the accusations mentioning that other weapons were exported to Saudi Arabia in 1993 and the available information shows that they have not been used in a way that violates human rights.