Photo: Quakers outside the CANSEC arms show in Ottawa, May 2025.
On February 11, Peace Brigades International-Canada participated in a webinar alongside the Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC-Quakers) and the Canadian peace research institute Project Ploughshares.
The video of this webinar will be posted soon.
Kelsey Gallagher from the Waterloo, Ontario-based Project Ploughshares focused on Bill C-233, the No More Loopholes Act.
Gallagher has previously explained on the Project Ploughshares website: “The Bill proposes changes to Canada’s arms export controls, specifically regarding transfers to the US. Nearly all Canadian military exports to the US currently proceed without an export permit and therefore without case-by-case review by Canadian officials. This exemption is long-standing and unique among Canada’s export relationships and poses a significant transparency and oversight gap, particularly with respect to Canada’s obligations under the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.”
Mel Burns from the Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC-Quakers) spoke about the various ways in which Friends can participate in the mobilization around the CANSEC arms show in Ottawa this coming May 27-28.
We are reminded of the comment by the head of witness and worship for Quakers in Britain Oliver Robertson speaking about the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms show in London: “As Quakers, we worship in silence to listen for the promptings of love and truth in our hearts. That truth is clear: making money from killing people is obscene. Weapons sold here are destroying lives in Gaza and around the world. The real crime is happening inside the arms fair, not outside it.”
Burns also highlighted their Book club—Civil resistance: what everyone needs to know beginning on March 19.
And Brent Patterson from Peace Brigades International-Canada spoke about observing the most recent DSEI arms show at the ExCel Centre in London in September 2025 and also shared a PowerPoint presentation with photos of the mobilization against the CANSEC arms show at the EY Centre in Ottawa this past May 2025.
He highlighted that according to the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) website, CANSEC involves 300 exhibiting companies, 15,000+ registrants, 60+ international delegations, 600+ VIPS, generals, top military & government officials, and that 96% of attendees have purchasing power.
This year, PBI-Canada is researching the export of military goods/strategic goods and technology from Canada and highlighting their potential impact on the safety and security of human rights defenders in five countries: Mexico, the Philippines, Indonesia, Palestine and the United States.
The first report can be read at Country report: The export of “military goods” to Indonesia; attacks against human rights defenders.
For updates about communities organizing against CANSEC this year, you can visit the Shut.Down.CANSEC Instagram page.
