Yukon MP Brendan Hanley is defending his decision to vote against bill C-233 on Wednesday, which aimed to prevent Canadian weapons from ending up in banned countries.

The NDP bill was intended to bring Canada more fully in line with the Arms Trade Treaty – removing exemptions to the rules for the U.S. and ensuring weapons sold there don’t continue on to regimes where they could be used for war crimes. 

Speaking in Parliament, NDP MP Jenny Kwan cited reporting from CBC which documented that military goods from Canada moved through the United States and then to Israel during a period when the foreign affairs minister said Canada was not exporting arms there.

Hanley said the legislation was “full of flaws” and would put Canada in a vulnerable position. He also told CBC that Canada has not sent weapons to Israel since the conflict in Gaza began – an apparent shift of his stance on the issue since the summer.

Despite support from 15 Liberal MPs, the bill did not get enough votes to pass first reading. 

Hanley called for full arms embargo on Israel last year

While Ottawa has restricted arms exports to Israel since 2024, critics say a loophole around third-party exports has allowed the flow of Canadian weapons to continue.

In July, Yukon MP Brendan Hanley was one of them.

In an open letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, he called for action to prevent current arms permits and indirect transfers from contributing to Israeli military operations. 

“We must ensure our current arms export controls fully reflect our commitment to peace and protection of civilians,” he wrote. “While I recognize that new arms permits to Israel have been paused, many third-party reports indicate that ongoing shipments are continuing under existing permits.” 

Hanley wrote that the situation in Gaza has caused “immense human suffering” and raised “serious questions about Canada’s role and responsibilities.” He then called for a full arms embargo on Israel. 

But speaking to CBC Friday, Hanley denied Canada has sent any weapons to Israel since the conflict began. 

“Let’s be clear, we have not been sending weapons or arms to Israel. And this goes back to the beginning of the Israeli invasion and the conflict in Gaza,” said Hanley. 

Hanley said it was clear the bill wasn’t going to be supported by the government or Conservatives, so it was more of a “symbolic gesture.” He also said it would fundamentally restructure Canada’s export control system – a claim disputed by the NDP. 

“It’s full of flaws legislatively and it would put us in a really vulnerable position, particularly as, you know, we are in the process of bolstering up our defence,” Hanley said.

‘We remember votes like this’

Before the vote, Anand told the House the bill was “irresponsible” and that the changes being proposed would “decimate Canada’s defence industry.” 

“This bill wouldn’t have really done anything to decimate the defence industry like the Liberals are saying,” said Saba Javed, a former territorial NDP candidate who lives in Whitehorse. “Really, it just upholds rules.”

Since 2023, protestors like Javed took part in numerous demonstrations pressuring Hanley’s office for action on Gaza.

“Hundreds of folks stepped out of their comfort zone who haven’t protested before, but felt this was an issue of such moral urgency […] that our resources are being used to harm people,” she said.

Javed said she believes many Yukoners are disappointed by Hanley’s vote.

“We remember votes like this,” she said. “Come election time, there will be Yukoners standing in the voting booth thinking about the fact that Brendan Hanley said one thing and then did another.”