News Release: MP Kwan Releases Video Calling for Support on Bill C-233 Before Upcoming Vote at Second Reading
News Release: MP Kwan Releases Video Calling for Support on Bill C-233 Before Upcoming Vote at Second Reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2026
MP Kwan Releases Video Calling for Support on Bill C-233 Before Upcoming Vote at Second Reading
OTTAWA — NDP MP Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East) today announced the release of a new video calling on Members of Parliament from all parties to support Bill C-233, the End the Loopholes Act, as the legislation heads to Second Reading debate in the House of Commons on Monday, March 9, with a vote expected Wednesday evening, March 11th. Featured in the video is Alex Neve, former Secretary-General of Amnesty International and CBC Massey Lecturer and former Canadian Ambassador to the UN and former Liberal Minister of Justice Allan Rock.
Bill C-233 would amend the Export and Import Permits Act to close a longstanding loophole that exempts most Canadian military exports to the United States from case-by-case permitting and public reporting requirements.
“Canadians believe that our arms-export system should reflect our values,” said Kwan. “Right now, there is a glaring gap that allows Canadian-made weapons and components exported to the United States to bypass the same oversight applied everywhere else, resulting in Canadian arms being used in grave human rights abuses. Bill C-233 addresses that directly.”
In a recent national op-ed in the Globe and Mail, former Foreign Affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy and former Minister of Justice Allan Rock underscored the urgency of reform. They wrote: “Canada’s current arms-export system contains a loophole so large that it undermines the very values we claim to uphold.” Because roughly half of Canada’s defence exports go to the U.S., those exports are exempt from permitting and assessment rules applied elsewhere, “most Canadian military goods face no case-by-case review and no public reporting.”
Axworthy and Rock further observed that while Canada calls its export-control regime rigorous, “for much of our export activity, there is effectively no oversight at all.”
Kwan said Bill C-233 would bring consistency and transparency to Canada’s system by ensuring that weapons, components and explosives exported to the United States are subject to the same review standards as those shipped to other countries. “Its premise is simple,” she said. “Canadian standards should be consistent and universal. We need to meet the standard of best practices for the Arms Trade Treaty that we signed and acceded to in 2019.”
Kwan noted that the bill does not affect military aid to Ukraine, which is delivered through a separate Department of National Defence process, nor does it govern imports or Canadian Armed Forces procurement.
“With global conflicts intensifying and international humanitarian law under strain, Canadians deserve assurance that our exports are not contributing — directly or indirectly — to human-rights abuses,” Kwan said.
The newly released video urges MPs to support Bill C-233 at Second Reading and to stand for a modern, principled arms-export regime. Canadians can view and share the video beginning today across social media platforms.
Second Reading debate will take place in the House of Commons on Monday, March 9. A recorded vote is expected Wednesday evening, March 11.
“Parliament now faces a clear choice,” said Kwan. “We can maintain an outdated exemption that undermines Canada’s credibility, or we can adopt a consistent, responsible system that reflects our commitments under international law. I urge all Members of Parliament to vote in favour of Bill C-233.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2026
New Democrats Renew Calls on Canada to Ban the RSS and Deny Entry to its Chief
OTTAWA —New Democrats are calling on the federal government to deny entry to the head of the fascist paramilitary organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Network (RSS) and are renewing past NDP calls on Canada to ban the RSS entirely.
NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Heather McPherson and NDP Immigration and Public Safety Critic Jenny Kwan today wrote to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Public Safety, and Immigration to urge action in advance of Mohan Bhagwat’s planned visit to Canada at the end of August.
“The RSS is an extremist group that advocates hate and violence towards religious minorities and marginalized in India and also engages in targeted intimidation of those who speak out against the organization in Canada,” said Heather McPherson, NDP Foreign Affairs Critic. “Multiple minority communities fear his presence in Canada could amplify hate and violence towards them and risk the safety of vulnerable individuals.”
In recent weeks, United Nations Human Rights experts have called on Canada to ensure members of the Sikh community are protected from violent threats by Hindutva extremist groups including the RSS.
“Canada must send a clear message that there is no place in this country for individuals who promote or enable hatred, violence, or intimidation against vulnerable communities or who are connected to activities that threaten Canada's security and democratic institutions. Pertinent sections of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act must be applied to protect Canadians and declare the IRSS and its members inadmissible,” said Jenny Kwan, NDP Critic for Public Safety and for Immigration.
New Democrats have long called on Canada to ban the RSS from Canada, place the RSS on the terrorist entities list, and impose sanctions on connected networks. Despite strong evidence of foreign interference and incitement to violence against Canadians, the Liberals have refused to take action on the RSS. Instead, in recent months the Carney government has grown closer to the Modi regime, causing members of several minority groups in Canada to say their safety no longer matters to the Liberal government.
On August 6, over 200 Canadian civil society organizations released a joint letter calling for Mohan Bhagwat to be denied entry to Canada.
