"According to Ms. Paling's findings, Canadian manufacturers could be exporting nearly $95 million more in military goods to Israel by the end of 2025, based on active permits currently held by Canadian companies. These permits, which total $107.7 million, include a range of controlled goods that could potentially be used in the current Israeli military siege on Gaza. It is also worth noting that several Canadian companies involved in military exports to Israel have sought to keep details of their export permits confidential through court actions."
August 12, 2024
To:
Nicole Feriancek, Editor-in-Chief, Ottawa Citizen
Bruce Deachman, Reporter, Ottawa Citizen
Dear Ms. Feriancek and Mr. Deachman,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to request a fact check and more comprehensive report on the figures in your story related to Canadian military exports to Israel as mentioned in your recent article titled "‘Enough is enough’: Hundreds of Palestinian supporters rally on Parliament Hill," published on August 10, 2024.
Your article states through a quote by Ottawa protester Mohammed William that "the Canadian government has already sent $28 million in weapons and weapons components to Israel." While this statement is technically correct based on old reports from February and March — like this one from The Breach — I would like to mention that the numbers based on new findings could be even higher.
Ongoing investigations and reports by journalist Emma Paling from The Maple, indicate that additional permits may have been issued, and the full scope of military exports is not yet be publicly known.
According to Ms. Paling's findings, Canadian manufacturers could be exporting nearly $95 million more in military goods to Israel by the end of 2025, based on active permits currently held by Canadian companies. These permits, which total $107.7 million, include a range of controlled goods that could potentially be used in the current Israeli military siege on Gaza. It is also worth noting that several Canadian companies involved in military exports to Israel have sought to keep details of their export permits confidential through court actions.
These recent findings are important to highlight as it would provide your readers with a more accurate understanding of Canada’s role in arming Israel in its ongoing genocide against Palestinians. I would recommend that you update your article to reflect these potential numbers and contracts for added context. It should also be clarified that the Canadian government does not send weapons and components, but rather issues export permits.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East