After initial outcries about journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, people are also calling for Canada to revoke military vehicle manufacturer General Dynamics Land System’s $15 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. I, however, find it difficult not to recall a similar situation a few months ago, when Saudi Arabia broke most commercial relations with Canada over a moral dispute. Despite social pressure, Canada still failed to end their arms deal in response.
In August of 2018, Canadian foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, criticized Saudi Arabia on their imprisonment of activists. Saudi Arabia felt that Canada was intervening in domestic matters and responded by cutting off official diplomatic and economic relations. Thereafter, Canada’s relationship with Saudi Arabia has remained rocky, and has been attributed to their keen desire to act as champions of human rights.
The actions that would really support these stances, however, have yet to make an appearance. The dissolvement of the relations between the two bears no serious consequences to Canada. What remains intact between the two nations is their oil relations, and the $15 billion arms deal; two avenues that have the potential to seriously harm Canada’s economy should they disintegrate. But despite Saudi Arabia’s grievances with Canada, they have been careful not to halt the most lucrative deals between the two nations; thus Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has been able to act as moral pallbearer without so much as hurting Canadian economic interests.
Immediately after this incident in the summer, advocacy groups began to encourage the Canadian government to cancel these money-spinning deals with a nation that fails to respect human rights. Unfortunately, their calls fell on deaf ears. However, Canada’s silence has recently changed, now that Saudi Arabia’s intervention in Yemen has begun to grab more headlines. Government officials are responding to criticism calling attention to the Canadian arms deal with Saudi Arabia, and how it helps the latter’s assault on Yemen. They confirm that they are taking these concerns seriously and will act accordingly.
Saudi Arabia’s military intervention into Yemen was launched in 2015, when interim Yemeni president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi called for support after he was expelled from Yemen by the Houthi movement. Since then, reports have emerged exposing the violent results of Saudi Arabia’s crusade in Yemen. Women and children are dying in vast numbers, and a terrible famine has swept the country. This begs the question: has the $15 billion arms deal made all of this possible, and if so, where is Canada’s morality now?
Specifically, what governs Canada’s morality? Is Canada really a champion of human rights if it fails to advocate for the causes that threaten its own self-interests? How can Canada, the beacon of humanitarianism, continue to morally supply Saudi Arabia with arms that are being used to fuel the war and atrocities in Yemen?
After the relations between Saudi Arabia and Canada soured in August, Trudeau told reporters, “Canadians have always expected our government to speak strongly, firmly and politely about the need to respect human rights around the world. We will continue to stand up for Canadian values and human rights.”
Trudeau is quick to take a moral stand against Saudi Arabia, but it goes without saying that actions often speak louder than words. If he truly cares about respecting human rights around the world, Trudeau should do more than give appealing statements, especially when there is something very tangible that can be done – namely, canceling the $15 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
Even when a video surfaced of a convoy of vehicles made by General Dynamics Land System driving over sand dunes in Yemen, the Trudeau government still failed to take action against Saudi Arabia for using Canadian military weaponry in the war in Yemen. There is enough evidence about the usage of these arms to take a firm moral stand and put a stop to the deal, but as Chrystia Freeland demonstrated in her statement, it is easier to speak pleasant, agreeable words than take difficult steps to prove that Canada truly advocates for human rights around the world.
So why does Canada really remain silent when it is inarguable that the arms deal with Saudi Arabia is morally wrong and infringes on human rights? According to a CBC article, “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously warned that cancelling the $15-billion contract, which was signed by the former Conservative government and upheld by the Liberal government, would cost [an] upward of $1 billion.”
If the government takes strict action against Saudi Arabia, morality will cost the Canadian economy a lot of money and hundreds of jobs. Elections are coming up next year, and Trudeau cannot afford to damage his chances of re-election. Economic and political self-interests presently take precedence over the hundreds of lives that are lost every day in Yemen.
Khashoggi’s murder has unexpectedly put Canada in an even tighter spot now, especially since countries like Germany, Finland, and Denmark have ceased their arms deals with Saudi Arabia as a result of the journalist’s death. If these nations can take affirmative action to protect human rights, Canada has even more reason to put their money where their mouth is, more so after Saudi Arabia has already severed most relations with them.
Trudeau is right when he says that Canadians expect their government to speak up for human rights around the world. A poll released by the Angus Reid Institute reveals that 9 out of 10 Canadians support the ban of future military sales to Saudi Arabia. It is clear from this poll that Canadians don’t just want Trudeau to speak up about human rights – they want him to act. Being a true champion for morality sometimes has dire consequences, and the Trudeau government must accept this if they truly wish to advocate for human rights around the world.
It is not enough to impose sanctions against the seventeen Saudis implicated in Khashoggi’s death. It is time, now more than ever, to permanently withdraw the military support that makes Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations in Yemen possible, and to stand on the right side of history. Canadian values demand no other way. I
By Zainab Mirza
Please note that opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views and values of The Blank Page.
